05 UKRAINE: THE BREADBASKET OF THE WORLD

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Excluding Russia, Ukraine is the largest country in Europe, covering an area of 603,550 km² and home to a population of 44 million.

Ukraine's location and natural resources have always played a major role in its history and culture, attracting foreign powers who have frequently utilised it as a breadbasket, often with tragic consequences for Ukrainians.

Natural conditions

Ukraine lies in the central part of Eastern Europe, positioned within the Eastern European Plain, which largely determines its relief. The terrain consists of 70% lowlands, 25% hills and a mere 5% mountainous regions, primarily the Carpathian and Crimean Mountains. The Dnieper River, a vital waterway flowing from north to south, divides Ukraine into two parts. The country predominantly experiences a temperate continental climate, characterised by hot summers and cold winters, fluctuating day and night temperatures and low precipitation levels. Ukraine encompasses three vegetation zones: forest, forest-steppe and steppe.

The Carpathians and Polesia stand out as the most forested regions of Ukraine, abounding with vast meadows and pastures. The forest and steppe areas boast the highest proportion of arable land, serving as the focal points of agricultural production.

Map illustrating average annual precipitation in Ukraine. The highest rainfall is in the mountainous regions and the lowest is in the southern steppe regions.

Ukrainian agriculture

Agriculture and food production play a pivotal role in the Ukrainian economy. In 2021, the agricultural sector accounted for 10.9% of Ukraine's GDP and provided employment for approximately 17.2% of the population. The industry encompasses various sectors, with crop and livestock production being the primary ones. Crop production is the dominant sector, constituting approximately 70% of agricultural output. Cereals form the backbone of Ukrainian agriculture, with wheat (25%), maize (20%) and barley (9%) being the most extensively cultivated, followed by oilseeds like sunflower (23 %), soybeans (4.5%) and rapeseed (3.6%). Root crops such as potatoes (4.5%), sugar beets (0.8%), perennial forage crops (3%), legumes (1.1%), vegetables (0.6%) and fruits round out the crop production profile.

Livestock production accounts for the remainder of agricultural output, focusing on cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, bees and fish.

sunflowers
maize
wheat
vegetables / fruit
soybeans

Crop production specialisation in Ukraine. The figure depicts the crop that is most intensively cultivated in each region.

 

milk
rabbit meat
pork
horse meat
lamb and goat meat
honey
beef and veal
eggs
wool

Livestock production specialisation in Ukraine. The figure depicts products that are characteristic of each region.

Chernozem

Ukraine boasts approximately 800 soil types, with black soils accounting for 44% of the country's soil stock, representing 6.7% of the world's supply. Black soils, known as chernozem, are renowned as the most fertile soils in the temperate zone. They have primarily developed on loess under steppe and forest cover in areas characterised by warmth and low rainfall. These fertile black soils have been intensively utilised by Ukrainians, contributing to Ukraine's status as the world's third-largest holder of arable land. However, the fertility of Ukraine's chernozem is currently under threat due to unsustainable farming practices. Issues such as water and wind erosion, acidification, salinisation, and chemical pollution from agrochemicals pose significant challenges to preserving the productivity of these valuable soils.

Ukrainian agriculture

Agriculture and food production play a pivotal role in the Ukrainian economy. In 2021, the agricultural sector accounted for 10.9% of Ukraine's GDP and provided employment for approximately 17.2% of the population. The industry encompasses various sectors, with crop and livestock production being the primary ones. Crop production is the dominant sector, constituting approximately 70% of agricultural output. Cereals form the backbone of Ukrainian agriculture, with wheat (25%), maize (20%) and barley (9%) being the most extensively cultivated, followed by oilseeds like sunflower (23 %), soybeans (4.5%) and rapeseed (3.6%). Root crops such as potatoes (4.5%), sugar beets (0.8%), perennial forage crops (3%), legumes (1.1%), vegetables (0.6%) and fruits round out the crop production profile.

Livestock production accounts for the remainder of agricultural output, focusing on cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep, bees and fish.

 

steppe

forest-steppe

Polesia

Carpathians

Crimean Mountains

less than 400 mm/m² – more than 1200 mm/m²

milk

rabbit meat

pork

horse meat

lamb and goat meat

honey

beef and veal

eggs

wool

Distribution of black soil location in Ukraine

The most valued black soil locations

Less valued black soil locations