Ukraine is a state with an agricultural type of economy, so it is not in vain that the soil (namely, black soil or chernozem) is considered to be the most significant wealth of Ukraine. At the same time, in Ukraine, as well as in the whole world, there is a particularly dangerous process of soil degradation, or the loss of its fertility, which experts call the “peaceful crisis of the planet”.

The Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine, Ostap Semerak, said that Ukraine is suffering from soil degradation as well as economic losses. He emphasised that “depending on the degree of degradation processes, damage from the lack of agricultural products is more than 20 milliard Ukrainian hrivnas year (approximately 723 million the US dollars)”. However, there is still no comprehensive state policy on this issue.

Scientists note that most of the soil suffered due to loss of humus and nutrients, leading to abnormal production of plants, about 43%. 39% of the lands have been affected by over-densification, and 38% have been affected by the formation of the crust.

Much soil is poisoned with harmful substances: 11% of grants are saturated with radionuclides, 9.3% of the soil is contaminated with pesticides, 8% - heavy metals. In the north of Ukraine, a large number of areas of infection with radionuclides - caesium, strontium. It takes 300 years to complete their decay.

Unfortunately, it is not so easy to change the situation. One of the ideas that can have a positive effect on the process is to celebrate World Soil Day, as it allows us to draw attention to such an important issue as soil degradation.

The World Soil Day unites people in the world for a common cause - protecting our soils from exhaustion, destruction, degradation, and also for reproduction of their fertility. It is not easy and at the same time a noble cause.