Global agribusiness giants are seizing Ukraine's fertile farmland
By ljdevon // 2025-07-17
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As the bombs fall and Ukrainian civilians flee their homes, another silent invasion is taking place—not with tanks, but with corporate contracts. Western agribusiness titans like BlackRock, Vanguard, Monsanto, and Saudi investment funds are exploiting Ukraine’s devastating war to quietly seize control of the country’s most valuable resource: its legendary black earth soil. With over a third of Ukraine’s farmland now at risk of going unplanted due to the Russian invasion, opportunistic investors are swooping in, leveraging IMF-backed land reforms to strip Ukrainians of their agricultural heritage. The consequences go far beyond Ukraine’s borders—global food security is being hijacked by the same corporate elites who care more about profits than people. Key points:
  • Ukraine’s "chernozem" soil—among the most fertile in the world—is being rapidly acquired by foreign corporations as Ukrainian farmers struggle amid war and displacement.
  • IMF pressure forced Ukraine to lift a land-sale moratorium in 2020, opening the door for agribusiness giants to buy up vast tracts of farmland.
  • Major investment firms like BlackRock and Vanguard, alongside agribusiness corporations, now control nearly 28% of Ukraine’s arable land.
  • Ukrainian labor and regulatory loopholes allow these corporations to exploit cheap labor, banned fertilizers, and GMO crops—practices illegal in the EU.
  • If Ukraine joins the EU, these corporations could flood Europe with cheap, deregulated crops, decimating local farmers while pocketing taxpayer-funded subsidies.

The great land grab: How corporations are colonizing Ukraine

Ukraine’s black earth, known as chernozem, is a national treasure, possessing nearly a quarter of the world’s richest soil. Historically, Soviet collectivization stripped farmers of private land ownership, but after Ukraine’s independence in 1991, oligarchs and foreign investors began seizing control. Fast-forward to 2024, and the situation has worsened dramatically—thanks to IMF-imposed land reforms pushed through during COVID lockdowns, preventing mass protests. The Oakland Institute’s explosive 2023 report reveals a stark reality: foreign agribusinesses now dominate Ukrainian farmland, operating through shell companies in tax havens like Cyprus and Luxembourg. Entities like NCH Capital—backed by U.S. pension funds and university endowments—are buying up land at unprecedented rates. Worse still, Ukrainian oligarchs have sold off shares to Western banks, turning food security into just another Wall Street commodity. "They don’t care about feeding people—they care about controlling the food supply," warns András Tibor Cseh, a Hungarian agricultural expert. "Ukraine is becoming a sacrifice zone for global agribusiness."

Deregulation warfare: How GMOs and banned chemicals flood Ukraine

While EU farmers must comply with strict environmental laws, Ukraine has become a deregulated playground for agribusiness. Half the fertilizers used in Ukraine are already banned in Europe, yet corporations like Monsanto—blocked from operating in the EU due to GMO bans—see Ukraine as an open frontier for genetic experimentation. With labor costs four times lower than Hungary and no animal welfare laws, Ukraine is a corporate dreamland. "There are no rules," says Cseh. "They grow whatever they want, poison the soil, and then sell the contaminated grain abroad." This toxic harvest isn’t just a Ukrainian problem—these cheap, deregulated crops will soon flood European markets, undercutting local farmers while filling corporate coffers.

The EU membership trap: A corporate takeover in disguise

The ultimate goal? Fast-tracking Ukraine into the EU, giving agribusiness giants duty-free access to 450 million consumers. Once inside the EU, these corporations will grab even more land while pocketing billions in farm subsidies—paid for by European taxpayers. Meanwhile, Ukrainian farmers—many of whom opposed the land reforms—are being pushed aside. As land transactions surge post-invasion, foreign entities exploit legal loopholes, even bypassing Ukrainian citizenship rules through presidential decrees. "They’re not just buying land—they’re buying influence," warns the Oakland Institute. With thousands of lobbyists in Brussels, these corporations are ensuring Ukraine’s EU accession benefits them, not local farmers. If BlackRock, Monsanto, and Saudi investors can bleed Ukraine dry during wartime, they’ll do the same anywhere else. This isn’t just about Ukraine—it’s about who controls the global food supply. Once these corporations monopolize farmland, they dictate prices, production, and even policy. Sources include: RMX.news Intellinews.com Europa.eu
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