Ukraine Can Ensure Global Food Security

Despite the war and constant terrorist shelling by russia, Ukrainian farmers are taking all necessary measures to ensure food security both within Ukraine and globally. In 2024, the agricultural sector accounted for nearly 60% of Ukraine’s total exports, reaching pre-war levels—$24.5 billion.

Behind these figures lie incredible stories of people who, despite suffering massive losses due to russia’s invasion, refused to give up and work even harder. Here we tell the story of Adelaida farming family business, which specializes in potato cultivation, particularly for chip production. Below is the direct speech of Olesia Tochitska:

*"We are a classic family farm. My parents founded it in 1992, and later, my brother and I joined the family business. Until 2022, our main operations were in Kherson Oblast, in southern part of Ukraine. We cultivated 7,500 acres of land, with approximately 1,230 acres dedicated to professional potato farming. We had made significant investments in irrigation restoration. Interestingly, the first push to restore irrigation in Kherson Oblast came from the United States through USAID agricultural support programs. In 2011, 'Adelaida' received $100,000 in funding, which marked the beginning of our irrigation revival.

In 2021, just six months before russia launched its full-scale invasion, we took out a multimillion-dollar loan and built a modern potato storage facility with a capacity of 15,000 tons. 'Adelaida' became one of the main suppliers of potatoes for PepsiCo's Lay’s chips production in Ukraine. By then, we had mastered the ability to harvest twice a year, significantly increased productivity, and saw a bright future ahead.

On the very first day of russia’s invasion, our farm was occupied. All our equipment remained there—large tractors, harvesters, planters, a modern laboratory, all our produce, fertilizers, and more. We couldn't take anything with us. I wouldn’t be surprised if our equipment was stolen by the russians and is now being used somewhere in their fields…

It's easier to talk about this now, but in 2022, we paid rent to landowners in food. In the occupied territories, it was impossible to maintain stable food security, and stores were empty. We distributed leftover grain, flour, oil, and other products to people—just to ensure they had something to eat.

One of the greatest life lessons for me came from my father in 2022. Imagine the situation—my parents had spent three decades building the business, and suddenly, most of it was under occupation. Meanwhile, loans still had to be repaid. But despite everything, my father didn’t succumb to panic or despair. I remember him saying, 'There’s no point in crying or feeling sorry for ourselves. We’ll pull ourselves together and plant potatoes.'

Since then, our main operations have moved to Zhytomyr Oblast in the north of Ukraine. For many years, 'Adelaida' had leased land there, but we never considered it as our primary business location.

We lost a lot. But now, three years later, I realize that we have become even stronger than before.

At first, we had to work with very limited resources. When we entered the 2022 season, we had no specialized equipment at all. We bought old planters and tractors that were falling apart and had to be repaired piece by piece. Everyone understood that it was a difficult time for the country, and we had to be as efficient as possible.

Another major and unexpected challenge for us in Zhytomyr Oblast was irrigation. Initially, we irrigated 173 acres, but this year, we plan to expand to nearly 1,200 acres. Again, we are incredibly grateful to the American people, as we applied for a USAID grant, which allowed us to purchase the necessary equipment again.

Now, we are gaining momentum, have stabilized our finances, and have a clear vision for development. Last year, thanks to a state preferential program, we built a large modern potato storage facility.

'Adelaida' has regained its position as one of Ukraine’s top professional potato producers. We have reestablished contracts with our partners, including PepsiCo.

My mother often says that opportunities are always right under our feet—we just need to see them. In 2022, our situation seemed catastrophic. But today, we feel much stronger and more efficient, which inspires us to move forward. We are considering expanding our farming areas.

As for why Ukraine’s agricultural sector is so important for the world, I have several explanations. Ukraine has the potential to feed the world and ensure global food security. This is not just an inspiring statement—it is a reality. Ukraine can meet the food needs of countries in Africa and the Middle East.

Additionally, it is important to understand that Ukraine’s agricultural sector operates with minimal subsidies, yet it is highly competitive and innovation-driven. Drone solutions, IT-driven agriculture, precision farming—all these advancements are being developed at an incredibly high level here. Today, I see an amazing number of smart, forward-thinking individuals working in this sector and driving its growth."