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The purpose of the paper was to assess the impact of climate changes on agricultural development and food security in Ukraine and Slovakia using statistical data from Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, State Statistics Service of Ukraine, Eurostat, Food and Agriculture Organization and other sources. The comparison method was used to evaluate changes in agricultural development indicators, as well as climate changes in 1998-2021 in Ukraine and Slovakia. The main indicators of agricultural development used in the research were agricultural raw materials exports(%), agricultural raw materials imports (%), agriculture value added (% of GDP), agriculture value added (annual % growth), agriculture value added (current US$), cereal production (metric tons), cereal yield (kg per hectare), crop production index, food production index. Correlation and regression equations were used to establish the relationship between climatic factors and agricultural development indicators. The multiple correlations between air temperature and indicators of agricultural development was r=0.75 for Ukraine, r=0.69 for Slovakia. Using neuromodeling tools, the indicators of cereal production volumes and cereals yields in Ukraine and Slovakia in 2024-2033 were predicted. Tables were used to summarize the results. In conclusion, it should be noted that climatic conditions should be analyzed in each sector of crop production, and measures should be taken to adapt technologies for the gradual expansion of obligations for the production and export of agricultural products to world markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper reviews the impacts of heavy metals on soil degradation and examines the influence of military equipment on agricultural lands during the war. Design/methodology/approach: The systematic research method involves a comprehensive approach focused on interrelated elements of land pollution by heavy metals during the war. The analysis is based on official data on soil contamination by heavy metals (Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), Chromium (Cr), Arsenic (As)) in Ukraine and other countries of the world during the war period from burned military equipment. Combining multiple methods has provided a more complete and detailed understanding of complex interactions. Findings: This study aims to assess the spatial distribution, concentration levels, and potential sources of heavy metal contamination in Ukrainian soils during the period of war. By employing a multidisciplinary approach encompassing field surveys, soil sampling, laboratory analyses, and geographic information systems mapping, the authors seek to elucidate the impact of warfare activities on soil quality and identify hotspots of contamination across war affected regions. Research limitations/implications: The implications of this study underscore the importance of stakeholder engagement and adaptive management for effective integration. Originality/value: These results could be especially interesting for researchers whose studies are interdisciplinary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irrigation is the main driver of crop production in many agricultural regions across the world. The estimation of irrigation water has the potential to enhance our comprehension of the Earth system, thus providing crucial data for food production. In this study, we have created a unique operational system for estimating irrigation water using data from satellite soil moisture, reanalysis precipitation, and potential evaporation. As a proof of concept, we implemented the method at a high resolution (1 km) during the period of 2015–2023 over the area south of the Kakhovka Dam in Ukraine, which collapsed on 6 June 2023. The selected study area enabled us to showcase that our operational system is able to track the effect of the pandemic and conflict on the irrigation water supply. Significant decreases of 63 % and 44 % in irrigation water compared to the mean irrigation water between 2015 and 2023 have been identified as being linked to the collapse of the dam and, potentially, to the COVID-19 pandemic, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduces new agrotechnological crop rotations is relevant in the context of environmental protection. The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of introducing two crop rotations on degraded lands in the Mykolaiv region, where active military operations were conducted. The study determined that the introduction of new crop rotations led to a 1.3-fold increase in gross output compared to previous data. In a five-field crop rotation, growing perennial grasses for green fodder together with annual grasses for silage restored soil fertility and increased yields by 30 c/ha compared to existing economic indicators. Oat yields with perennial grasses increased by 18 c/ha. Growing corn for silage and green fodder provided an additional 100 cwt/ha. An increase in the yield of fodder roots and annual grasses for green fodder by 110 c/ha demonstrated the effectiveness of the new crop rotations. In a seven-season crop rotation, the introduction of perennial grasses increased soil fertility reduced soil erosion, and increased yields of winter wheat and sugar beet. Sugar beet yields increased by 25 c/ha, while potatoes and grain corn yields increased by 55 c/ha. The introduction of annual grasses, pulses and buckwheat helped to increase yields by 28 c/ha. The results of the study can be used by local communities to develop and implement environmental measures and programmes aimed at restoring the structure and fertility of damaged lands and preserving their quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The comprehensive influence and importance of agricultural production on the economy of the Republic of Serbia and its connection with the defense system represent an interesting research topic. This topic has to be researched carefully due to the connection, mutual influence, and mutual intertwining of commodity reserves of food products, the economic system, the defense system, and the army as one of its components, with social and political factors, both internal and external. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, global increases in food prices have been noticeable. This problem arose with the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine. It should be understood that the commodity reserve system of food products is a subsystem within a series of higher subsystems and systems, and that this is where its complexity and comprehensiveness lie. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]