Invitation to the seminar “Access to land and agroecology: EU experience for Ukraine”

Ukrainian Rural Development Network invite you to participate in the seminar “Access to Land and Agroecology: Experience of EU Countries for Ukraine.” The seminar aims to facilitate the exchange of knowledge on agroecology and access to land, with a focus on the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. Key topics include Ukraine’s land reform during the war, best practices and initiatives for promoting agroecological farming, and relevant European policies. 

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The full-scale invasion of russia has caused colossal losses to the Ukrainian agricultural sector, threatening food security not only in Ukraine but also globally. Targeted attacks on agricultural infrastructure, the destruction of land, and soil degradation have created critical challenges for the recovery of the agricultural sector.

At the same time, the large-scale land reform that lifted the moratorium on the sale of agricultural land during the war has led to significant land concentration in private hands, including legal entities. Despite numerous appeals from concerned scientists, civil society, farmers, and peasants, the land market continues to operate during the war, creating serious challenges.

Considering the European Union integration of Ukraine, it is necessary to rethink approaches to agricultural regulation, particularly land relations. It is important to consider European approaches to supporting small farmers in accessing land and implementing agroecological practices.

The seminar “Access to Land and Agroecology: Experience of EU Countries for Ukraine” will serve as a platform for discussing these important issues. Participants will have the opportunity to share with the best European practices in agroecology and access to land, as well as discuss proposals to Ukrainian land policy.

Thus, the event will provide a platform for discussing:

• Ukrainian agricultural land market under martial law and the changes occurring within the framework of land reform;
• European experience in access to land based on resilient farming models;
• Agroecological approaches to restoring agricultural lands, particularly in the context of the war’s consequences.

The event will contribute to the development of effective strategies for the reconstruction of Ukraine’s agriculture based on the principles of sustainable development. Participation in the seminar will be beneficial for representatives of government authorities, researchers, farmers, civil society organizations, and all those interested in fair access to land and sustainable agricultural development.

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The seminar “Access to Land and Agroecology: Experience of EU Countries for Ukraine” has been made possible with the support of the State Institution “Institute of Economics and Forecasting of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine” under the EU Erasmus+ program.

Co-organizers of the event: Ukrainian Network for Rural Development, European Network “Access to Land,” Institute for Rural Development and Agriculture of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute of Land Use of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Open International University for Human Development “Ukraine,” Association of Farmers and Private Landowners of Ukraine, Association of Small Farmers of Romania “EcoRuralis,” and the Public Organization “Permaculture in Ukraine.”