In the conditions of the active phase of hostilities in Ukraine, the components of the ecosystem are significantly damaged: water resources, flora and fauna, as well as soils. For a country that is traditionally positioned as an agrarian state, the issue of soil condition is of particular importance, because the food security of not only Ukraine, but also many other countries of the world depends on their quality. With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the problem of possible soil contamination with heavy metals, chemicals and other toxic compounds has become one of the key issues that causes concern not only at the national but also at the international level. Contaminated soils threaten the ecological balance and quality of agricultural products, which can affect the health of millions of people.
Sumy National Agrarian University, responding to the challenges of modern times, has become a pioneer in the study of the problems of soil degradation and contamination. University scientists are actively working on developing effective remediation methods — restoring soil fertility. In particular, research is aimed at studying the impact of heavy metals on fertility, developing methods for cleaning and restoring ecosystem functions of soils.
One of the important steps in this direction was the internship of Oksana DATSKO, PhD, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Agrotechnology and Soil Science, at the leading laboratory of soils and the environment (Laboratoire Sols & Environnement) of the University of Lorraine (Université de Lorraine – INRAE) in France. This internship was made possible thanks to the Women in STEM program, which supports women in science and technology. An important role in the implementation of this opportunity was played by the Embassy of France in Ukraine and the Alliance Française in Kharkiv, which actively promote the expansion of academic mobility and cooperation between Ukrainian and French scientific institutions.
The laboratory where the internship took place specializes in studying the impact of anthropogenic factors on soils, preserving biodiversity and restoring the quality of polluted environments. Its main areas of work include the development of methods for diagnosing the state of soils, studying their functioning, and creating effective models of interaction between soil, plants and microorganisms.
Oksana DATSKO’s internship opened up new prospects for international cooperation. During her stay in France, she presented the results of research conducted within the framework of projects with the Royal Agricultural University (Great Britain). Of particular interest were the issues of optimizing soils in areas of military conflict, as well as the possibility of creating innovative models of land reclamation.
In addition, the teacher had the opportunity to familiarize herself with the laboratory’s material and technical base, attend the defense of graduate students’ theses and discuss opportunities for joint research with French colleagues. One of the important results of the visit was the preparation of a draft grant application for funding, a joint research project on the impact of military operations on agroecosystems.
Oksana DATSKO also initiated agreements on academic mobility of students and teachers of the Faculty of Agrotechnology and Environmental Management of SNAU. It is important that such programs will allow Ukrainian students to integrate into the European scientific community, expand their knowledge and implement best practices in the restoration of agricultural landscapes of Ukraine.
The activities of Sumy National Agrarian University not only contribute to solving urgent environmental problems, but also ensure the strengthening of the role of Ukrainian science in the international arena.
Joint research and involvement in international programs are key factors in the formation of sustainable solutions to overcome the environmental consequences of war and restore the fertility of Ukrainian lands.
