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Roman Diazhuk
Roman DIAZHUK
[ region ]
Odesa
18 / 10 / 2021
Organic farmer, owner of the Danube Agrarian, Safiany village, Odesa Region
[ topic ] Food Security and Organic Farming
Agriculture remains a significant sector in Ukraine’s economy. It amounts to up to 16% GDP. It employs 20% of the country’s workforce. It represents 40% of the country’s exports. Despite its potential, organic farming uses up a mere 1% of Ukraine’s arable land.

Switzerland supports organic farming in Ukraine for the last 20 years with a focus on strengthening added value output for both domestic market and exports. Ukraine ranks second as a supplier of organic products to Europe.
Zero Hunger / 2
Decent Work and Economic Growth / 8
Responsible сonsumption and production / 12
Healthy food makes healthy people and a healthy country! It is all part of a complex and subtle ecosystem. This is what I keep repeating. Most people these days are ready to eat anything and they are not interested in organic food per se. So my first priority is to explain that our vegetables, our fruits and our meat are free of nitrates, free of any kind of pesticides and hardly more expensive than other products. All of this is guaranteed by the numerous certifications we obtained over the years. Thanks to our multiple partnerships with retail chains across the country, a growing number of Ukrainians understand that organic food is the best choice for them and for their children. We enjoy a special position on the Ukrainian market as we are the only ones to produce organic peaches and nectarines thanks to a favourable climate due to the location south of 45 ° latitude. Plus our square- and heart-shaped watermelons are popular hits!
Organic farming is possible through passion, long-term professionalism and our partners’ support.
We did not climb to success alone. Our partners provided us with invaluable help through training and grants so that we may grow as an environmentally and socially responsible farm. It means that we do not work only for ourselves. On our 2,200 hectares, we work to keep our environment clean and to provide local workers with jobs close to their homes. We are also very open to share our knowledge with other farmers so that organic farming expands. It is not easy to obtain organic certifications and to live out of organic farming. Yet it is possible through passion, long-term professionalism and our partners’ support. In the end, it is absolutely worth it. Welcome to our organic paradise!
Since 24th February 2022
The war annihilated the plans of millions of Ukrainians. But our company continues to work normally. We continue to sow and to grow crops to provide our residents with good quality, healthy and organic products. We have decided not to change our principles, we do not want to pollute our land with pesticides so we continue to engage in organic farming.Ukraine needs people with new skills – “Do-ers with a capital D". I am ready to rebuild Ukraine, a country that was first tortured by corrupt officials and is now destroyed by the occupiers. It will be very important – to win the war yet NOT TO LOSE THE PEACE! 
Zero Hunger / 2
Decent Work and Economic Growth / 8
Responsible сonsumption and production / 12
after
24 feb 2022
What else is Switzerland doing for Ukraine?
Switzerland has been assisting those impacted through various means – from humanitarian aid, humanitarian demining and financial support to granting protection status S to individuals from Ukraine seeking refuge. By 15 February 2024, the Swiss federal government had spent a total of around 3 billion Swiss francs to support Ukrainian refugees in Switzerland and people in Ukraine.

In 2022, Switzerland organised the first Ukraine Recovery Conference in Lugano and launched the political process to help Ukraine rebuild. The Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held in Switzerland in 2024, set up a path towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. In the longer term, the Federal Council aims to allocate 1.5 billion Swiss francs to support Ukraine's recovery efforts by 2028.
organic farming
energy efficiency
search for missing persons
food security
culture
tourism
diplomacy
peace process
health
psychosocial support
protection
education
gender equality
sustainable cities
water access
human rights
demining