Specialists of the State Institution "Institute of Soil Protection of Ukraine" took part in the scientific seminar "Chernobyl-40: Retrospective, Challenges and Strategic Guidelines for the Restoration of Radioactively Contaminated Lands", organized by the Institute of Agroecology and Environmental Management of the NAAS.

Within the framework of the plenary session, Acting Director General Roman Palamarchuk presented a report on the topic "Effectiveness of Agricultural Systems for Reducing Radioecological Risks in Contaminated Territories". In his speech, he emphasized that the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster are long-term and require a systematic scientific approach to the management of such lands.

It was emphasized that in the decade after the accident, effective approaches to farming in radioactively contaminated territories have been formed. In particular, the use of balanced mineral nutrition, optimization of crop rotation and constant monitoring allow reducing the ingress of radionuclides into plant products and ensuring stable yields.

Special attention was paid to the results of many years of field research, which confirm that the correct combination of agrotechnical measures not only reduces radioecological risks, but also increases crop productivity even in difficult conditions. At the same time, the need for constant quality control of products and a careful approach to the selection of crops, taking into account their ability to accumulate radionuclides, was emphasized.

Head of the laboratory Olga Dmytrenko presented a report “Ecological transformation of soils of Ukrainian Polissya after the Chernobyl disaster using the example of the village of Vovchkiv of the Polissya community”. The presentation highlighted the changes that occurred in the soil cover under the influence of radioactive contamination, as well as modern approaches to assessing its condition and restoration.

We thank the organizers for the invitation and the opportunity to speak, exchange experience and join in the formation of common approaches in this important area.