K-State’s new war mission: fight global food shortages from Russian attack on Ukraine

We’ve all seen, heard and read about the atrocities in Ukraine since the Russians invaded in February.

The bombed buildings and the many displaced persons fleeing to Poland and other countries – these stories, sounds and images will haunt us all for years to come.

At the same time, we salute and support the freedom fighters who are holding the invaders to the eastern part of the country.

We know the war is throughout Ukraine, but what we aren’t seeing, hearing or reading nearly as much about is the devastation caused to the country’s agricultural sector, nor the impact this will have globally over the coming years.

Kansas State University’s College of Agriculture is fortunate for the return of Antonina Broyaka, who first came to the college 20 years ago as a Fulbright Scholar.

Before she was forced to flee Ukraine with her children, she was a dean at the Vinnytsia National Agrarian University. Her husband remains in Ukraine helping other families unable or unwilling to leave.

Antonia and I have spoken at length, and she’s shared with me her analysis of Russia’s invasion.

If you didn’t know, Ukraine is the “Breadbasket of Europe” much as Kansas is to the United States.

Because of this, one of the strategies the Russians are deploying is blocking the Ukrainian ports, keeping the country’s resources from leaving. The invaders are in turn selling those resources on the black market.

What’s the impact of stopping Ukraine’s agricultural output? Roughly 8% of the world’s wheat and 13% of the global corn export is affected.

The World Bank calculates that the conflict could result in a 37% increase in food prices — and for every one percentage point rise, another 10 million people are thrown into extreme poverty.

Simultaneously, due to heat and drought, India has announced it is banning the export of its wheat.

Prior to the ban, the country was expecting to ship a record 11 million tons in 2022. This restriction is another major blow to global supplies and has dramatically increased commodity prices.

Readers know that Kansas State University has one of this nation’s – if not the world’s – best agricultural colleges.

We have long been focused on discovering and enhancing ways to increase food production while reducing the cost of farming and use of natural resources.

This focus includes improving value-added foods and developing better tools and technologies to protect the food supply through biosecurity and biodefense measures.

Never has any of this wide range of work been more important than it is today.

The continued investment in this research and adjacent technologies is strategically expanding the Kansas economy, but it is more vital for our global friends and partners.

It is through our stewardship and leadership in these next-generation agriculture practices that Kansas can help offset the impacts of a global conflict or disastrous drought, so people can continue to eat affordably and nutritiously worldwide.

The U.S. and its allies must find ways to increase food production to reduce the world’s vulnerability to food shortages, such as the one we expect to experience soon.

Regarding Antonia, she and her children are adjusting to life in the United States.

Antonia is obtaining a work visa to provide extension programming through the Department of Agricultural Economics and K-State Research and Extension.



Her husband is continuing to work in Vinnytsia, and she speaks by phone with him every day.