Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has invested nearly $2 billion in Ukraine’s economy, primarily through food purchases for humanitarian programs, ProAgro Group reports.
According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy, cooperation between WFP, Ukrainian producers and humanitarian organizations has helped create or preserve around 4,000 jobs in the small and medium-sized farming sector. A significant share of this support has been directed toward enterprises operating in frontline regions.
Ukraine and WFP are currently discussing the expansion of the Food from Ukraine initiative, which is viewed as the next stage of the Grain from Ukraine program. The initiative aims to move beyond raw commodity exports and establish a network of international agri-food hubs across Africa and the Middle East.
As part of this effort, the first regional agri-food hub is planned in Ghana, where reconstruction of storage and production facilities has already begun. The project also includes the launch of local pasta production using Ukrainian flour.
The finished food packages are expected to combine Ukrainian and locally produced products, while the hubs will serve as regional logistics centers capable of responding quickly to food crises.
At the same time, WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are expanding cooperation with Ukraine in the field of humanitarian demining of agricultural land and the restoration of farmland for food production.
Earlier, Ukraine delivered 1,850 tons of wheat to Pakistan under the Grain from Ukraine initiative. According to WFP estimates, the shipment will help support around 26,000 people.
