During the Conference on Mine Action in Ukraine 2024, held in Lausanne, Switzerland, the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine — Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko presented the art project "Soul of Soil." This is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, the UN Development Program, the social enterprise "Moyi. Ridnym," and the chef and public opinion leader, TV host Olha Martynovska.
According to Yuliia Svyrydenko, the art project "Soul of Soil" tells about how demining affects the lives of Ukrainians and global food security. It also demonstrates the progress made over the past year in humanitarian demining thanks to efforts within the country and support from international partners.
The project shares stories of residents from border regions with Russia affected by landmines and stories of farmers from Mykolaiv region whose lands have been mined. Currently, in the cleared fields, agricultural producers are resuming work, growing wheat and vegetables that subsequently reach global markets.
"Ukraine has already managed to return over 35 thousand square kilometers of previously potentially mined territories to use. For comparison, this is more than the area of Belgium. It is very important for us that our international partners see the real impact of their assistance on the lives of Ukrainians. It is not just hectares of land — it is millions of lives. Moreover, not only in Ukraine but also in the world, since Ukraine is one of the key suppliers of grain to global markets. And while our lands remain mined, global food security will suffer," says Yuliia Svyrydenko.
The art project "Soul of Soil" includes two elements that symbolize for the international community the real cost of every dinner for families in Ukraine and around the world that Ukraine has to pay.
During the project's launch, UN Deputy Secretary-General and Deputy Administrator of the UN Development Program Haoliang Xu emphasized the urgent need for global partnerships to support the recovery of Ukraine.
"The agricultural sector of Ukraine is crucial for global food security, and the destructive impact of landmines threatens not only Ukraine but also the most vulnerable groups of people in the world. UNDP is proud to support the "Soul of Soil" project, which highlights the urgent need for international cooperation to accelerate demining efforts and ensure that Ukraine's fertile lands can once again feed millions of people," noted Haoliang Xu.
The first element of the project is a dish prepared with products grown in the cleared fields of Mykolaiv region. The enterprise where these products are collected resumed operations after the de-occupation of Snihurivka; during this time, nearly 6 thousand hectares of fields have been cleared and are now growing wheat and other crops — vegetables and melons.
The dish was prepared by chef Olha Martynovska, originally from Mykolaiv region. To draw attention to the demining problem, Olha visited her native places and prepared a traditional Ukrainian appetizer with local vegetables.
"At what cost, what risks do people take to grow grain, so that I can then prepare (traditional Ukrainian bread) palianytsia!" said Olha Martynovska. "It is impossible to put a price on this bread because it is the price of life."
The second part of the project includes napkins embroidered by elderly women from Sumy region who are members of the social organization "Moyi. Ridnym." The organization helps elderly women remain active in the labor market.
"Creating linen embroidered napkins means much more for the artisans of the social enterprise 'Moyi. Ridnym' than just production — it is a sense of significance in their work, capability, and involvement in important matters in their country. In synergy with the project partners of "Soul of Soil," we managed to convey an important meaning about the resilience of the Ukrainian people through the products, and the symbol of the ear of grain — significant for our history. It has witnessed so many historical periods from Trypillia to the Holodomor of 1932-33. And now, the ear of grain is a witness to the resilience of Ukrainian farmers. This project is also about women's leadership. To produce these napkins, women united with other artisans of the project in the villages of Sumy region at different stages and created together, thereby strengthening their community," says Kira Okhrimenko, the founder of "Moyi. Ridnym."
As part of the presentation of the art project "Soul of Soil" in Lausanne, Yuliia Svyrydenko presented packages with linen napkins embroidered with an ear of grain and a vegetable appetizer to the heads of international delegations — participants of the International Conference on Mine Action in Ukraine (UMAC2024).
