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TNT in Ukrainian Wheat
Pinkafeld, 29th of October 2024. The Russian invasion of Ukraine began in 2022 and continues to this day. For the local population, this has meant pain, loss, and trauma. The rest of the world has also been affected in various ways by the ongoing conflict. Dennis Röger, a graduate of the Bachelor’s degree programme in Energy and Environmental Management at UAS Burgenland, examined the impact of explosives on agricultural products exported by Ukraine for his Bachelor’s thesis.
The full extent of the impact on agricultural products and Ukraine’s export activities can only be assessed after the invasion ends.
Dennis Röger, alumni of UAS Burgenland
With around 42 million hectares and the world’s most fertile soil, Chernozem, Ukraine is often called the “breadbasket of Europe”. The 60-million-hectare country supplies regions around the globe with grain and sunflower oil. Due to the increased use of artillery ammunition, such as explosive or smoke shells, mines, and small-calibre ammunition, contamination of agricultural products with pollutants is expected. The impact on agricultural products depends on the type of ammunition used. Röger, who works as an expert in explosives for the Austrian Armed Forces, analysed the weapons used and their effects.
His key findings:
- Military operations worldwide are the main cause of soil and water contamination. Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and zinc, as well as inorganic and organic explosives like 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) or hexogen (RDX), pose the greatest problem.
- The soil is contaminated by landmines buried in the earth or unexploded ordnance, i.e., ammunition that failed to detonate in the intended area. Another issue is unexploded ammunition left behind on the battlefield. These pollutants enter the ecosystem through humidity and rain.
- The most commonly used explosives in the Ukraine war, TNT and RDX, have different effects on agricultural products. RDX mainly accumulates in the above-ground parts of plants, while the highest concentration of TNT has been found in the roots. “The fact is that plants are clearly contaminated by these pollutants, and therefore, so are humans who consume agricultural products,” explains UAS graduate Dennis Röger.
Production and exports have already plummeted
From the start of the war until the middle of the following year, wheat production in Ukraine dropped by 40%. This decline was primarily due to the neglect of fields, as many locals were engaged in the front lines. Additionally, the challenges in exporting agricultural products caused global wheat prices to rise by 1.5 times. Countries such as Egypt, Spain, Iran, and regions in the Middle East and North Africa, which rely heavily on Ukrainian exports, are the most affected by the war's repercussions. “The longer the war lasts, and the more agricultural land becomes unusable due to contamination, the worse the problem will become,” concludes Röger. The economic impact on the region is enormous.
About the author
Dennis Röger is a trained chemical engineer and works in quality management in the defence sector for the Austrian Armed Forces. He completed his part-time Bachelor’s degree in Energy and Environmental Management at UAS Burgenland and is currently pursuing a Master’s in the same field. He has worked with explosives for the Armed Forces both domestically and abroad for 15 years, initially in quality control and now in quality management. In addition to his main job, he serves as an examiner for apprenticeship qualification exams.
About the programme
Bachelor’s degree programme in Energy and Environmental Management – 6 semesters – full-time (Tue-Fri) or part-time (every other week: Friday afternoons, Saturday all day) or extended part-time (two extra semesters to reduce the workload per semester) – Academic degree: Bachelor of Science Engineering, BSc – Campus Pinkafeld – Admission: secondary school leaving certificate, university entrance or vocational matriculation exam, preparatory course with additional qualification exam. No tuition fees. For more information and to apply for the 2025 intake, visit www.fh-burgenland.at.
Rückfragehinweise: Mag.a Christiane Staab │ Marketing & Kommunikation │ Fachhochschule Burgenland GmbH │ Tel: +43 (0)5 7705 3537 │ E-Mail: christiane.staab@hochschule-burgenland.at