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Dr Andrew Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation has announced more than US$5 million in funding to help revitalise Ukraine’s agricultural sector.
Forrest announced the funding at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome and confirmed the foundation would work alongside Ukrainian leaders to rally practical investment into scalable demining funds.
Clearing unexploded ordnance is critical for Ukraine’s recovery with more than 25 per cent of the nation’s productive land contaminated, according to the foundation. In addition, successful demining could unlock up to US$10 billion in annual agricultural output.
Minderoo Foundation committed to fast-track best practice policies to rebuild Ukraine’s farming sector, rebuild vital transport links for exports and expand large-scale demining programs in the front-line agricultural regions of Kharkiv, Mykolaiv and Dnipro.
“Is this really our battle? Yes, it is. Australia stands shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine because a fair go is in our DNA and Ukraine has been treated with breathtaking injustice,” Forrest said.
“Europe is muscling up to empower Ukraine’s victory. It’s time for all of us governments, business, foundations to do the same.
“This is not charity, this is a vote of confidence in Ukraine’s future. Ukraine is totally investable. Its people are investable. Its agriculture industry is at a pivotal point. Let’s put capital to work for good.
“While everyone talks about critical minerals and rare earths and as one of the world’s biggest miners, I assure you there’s nothing rare about rare earths, it’s food we could run out of. Ukraine’s strategic advantage as a food bowl must be protected.
“Drone attacks keep threatening farmers. Fields are contaminated. Rural communities are displaced … Yet this brave nation keeps growing its economy, maintaining 5 per cent growth even under attack, outstripping Russia.
“Europe must lead. We must have a Ukrainian future determined by Ukraine and a European future determined by Europe which includes Ukraine. I stand ready to back that leadership. Let’s get behind it, together.”
The foundation also pledged to drive climate-resilient technology, modern farming and skills training to boost production, as well as ensure Ukraine’s grain keeps feeding food-insecure nations in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Minderoo Foundation has committed more than AU$30 million since 2022.
“We are extremely grateful to the Minderoo Foundation for announcing a new US$5 million package that will help revitalise Ukraine’s agricultural sector,” a statement from the Embassy of Ukraine in Australia and New Zealand SAID.
“Thank you for your support.”
