Investing in demining is crucial for Ukraine’s rebuilding and ensuring global food security.

Before the full-scale invasion, Ukraine fed 400 million people worldwide and supplied agricultural products to the EU, North Africa, and Asia, providing about 10% of the world’s grain. However, due to occupation and mining 20%, or around six million hectares, of Ukraine’s farmland is currently inaccessible for cultivation. Restoring it to productivity is essential, said Dmytro Salimonov, a top manager at Global Clearance Solutions (GCS), a company that specializes in eliminating explosive hazards.

There are 138,500 square kilometers still potentially contaminated with explosives, accounting for more than 22% of Ukraine’s total area. Fully demining Ukraine will cost approximately $30B, with the total expense to clear Ukrainian fields potentially reaching $10-15B.

Nevertheless, every $1 invested in humanitarian demining can generate over $4 in long-term economic benefit, including increased GDP, job creation, and enabling people to return to their communities. Investments in demining quickly pay off by restoring production, boosting agricultural exports, increasing tax revenues, and promoting overall economic growth in cleared areas, emphasized Salimonov.

Currently, more than 70 specialized GCS machines are operating in Ukraine, with investment in 2023-2024 surpassing €2M.