After the Bomb Squads, the Labs: How Ukraine Will Test Soil in Demined Areas
29 July 13:55
Simply clearing the land of mines is not enough to return it to farmers immediately. After clearing the area of mines and other explosive hazards, it is necessary to test the soil and confirm that the land can be safely used for agriculture. The Ministry of Economy and Environment of Ukraine reported on the results of working meetings with JICA representatives, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
To this end, Ukraine and the Japan International Cooperation Agency ( JICA ) plan to establish a Center of Excellence for Soil Analysis.
Why the Land Needs to Be Tested After Demining
The completion of demining operations does not mean that a field can be sown immediately. The next step should be to assess the condition of the soil and confirm that it is safe for people, equipment, and the cultivation of agricultural crops.
Deputy Minister of Economy and Environment Ihor Bezkaravaynyi emphasized that cleared land must not only be demined but also suitable for further use.
“Cleared land must become suitable for use. To achieve this, we need to set priorities based on community needs, assess soil safety, and integrate demining with recovery planning and economic activities. Cooperation with JICA helps us bring these elements together and strengthen Ukraine’s capacity in the long term,” said Ihor Bezkaravaynyi.
To achieve this, it is necessary to:
- properly collect soil samples;
- conduct laboratory tests according to uniform standards;
- assessing the condition of land after hostilities;
- determining whether the land can be returned to agricultural production;
- combine demining with the economic needs of communities.
The future network is expected to implement uniform methodologies for sample collection, analysis, and land condition assessment.
How the network of laboratories will operate
The Soil Analysis Center of Excellence will not be a separate new government agency.
It is planned to be formed as a network of existing Ukrainian laboratories, research institutions, and specialized organizations. They will operate under standardized rules, which should make research results comparable and suitable for decision-making regarding land use.
The Institute of Soil Protection of Ukraine is set to become the network’s lead institution. The National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine and other laboratories may also be involved.
JICA will consider the possibility of:
- engaging international experts;
- training Ukrainian specialists;
- organizing study tours to Japan;
- supporting the implementation of joint research methodologies.
The final list of laboratories and the timeline for the network’s full launch have not yet been announced.
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What Will Be Tested in the Izyum District
A separate area of cooperation will be a pilot project in the Izyum District of Kharkiv Oblast.
To identify the areas that need to be cleared first, Ukraine is already using the GRIT system. It combines data on areas contaminated with explosive ordnance with information on damaged infrastructure, the needs of local communities, and the socioeconomic situation.
In other words, the order of demining will not be determined solely by the extent of mine contamination. Consideration will also be given to how quickly clearing a specific area will help restore housing, infrastructure, agriculture, and the community’s economic life.
Artificial intelligence will be used to assess damage
As part of the pilot project, the parties plan to test a new module of the GRIT system that will assess damage to buildings using artificial intelligence.
There are also plans to update the system’s social and economic methodology for the Kharkiv region. This update is intended to more accurately identify the communities, farms, and households for which demining will have the greatest practical impact.
Separately, the use of GRIT data is being considered to identify small farmers and rural families who may receive assistance as part of a future pilot project by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme.
What the Project Will Offer Farmers
For farmers in de-occupied and frontline areas, the creation of a network of laboratories will provide a unified mechanism for verifying land after demining.
It is expected that farmers will be able to obtain confirmation that cleared plots are suitable for resuming agricultural activities. At the same time, the decision to return a specific plot of land to cultivation will depend on the results of the investigations and procedures established by the state.
The project is intended to help:
- return cleared fields to use more quickly;
- reduce risks for farmers and workers;
- standardize laboratory findings;
- identify the most critical areas for demining;
- link land clearance to the recovery of the local economy.
In the fall of 2025, Japan had already provided Ukraine with more than 100 pieces of equipment for soil testing and sampling. The equipment was received by the Ukrainian Institute of Soil Protection as part of JICA’s emergency recovery program.
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Women Will Be Involved in Mine Action
Another area of cooperation will be expanding women’s participation in humanitarian demining.
JICA plans to present the results of a study tour to Japan—which took place as part of the international Women, Peace, and Security initiative—to the Ukrainian gender working group.
The goal is to involve women in various aspects of mine action—from planning and data analysis to community engagement and territorial rehabilitation.
About JICA
JICA is Japan’s government-run agency for international cooperation, which implements programs for technical assistance, development, and post-conflict reconstruction.
Since the start of the full-scale war, the agency has been supporting Ukrainian projects in the areas of humanitarian demining, energy, healthcare, education, agriculture, infrastructure, and economic recovery.
In October 2025, Ukraine and JICA also signed a memorandum of cooperation in the field of humanitarian demining.
When Will the Network Become Operational?
Currently, Ukraine and JICA have announced that they have agreed on the concept and will continue to develop the project. The exact launch date for the entire network of laboratories, the amount of funding, and the full list of participants have not yet been announced.
At the same time, the pilot project in the Izyum district is intended to serve as a practical testing ground for new approaches to determining demining priorities, assessing damage, and supporting local farmers.
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