TGI Ukraine Lays the Foundation for Agroecological Transformation in the Carpathian Mountains

Zakarpattia & Ivano-Frankivsk Oblasts | 2026

The Grassroots Institute (TGI) Ukraine has initiated preparatory activities for a new programme aimed at promoting agroecology and climate-resilient farming systems across the Ukrainian Carpathians. Building on its ongoing work in biodiversity conservation, pollinator protection, sustainable rural livelihoods, and participatory natural resource management, the Institute is laying the groundwork for a series of small- to medium-scale agroecological interventions that will be implemented in Rakhiv, Tyachiv, and Khust raions of Zakarpattia Oblast, and Verkhovyna raion of Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast. These mountain landscapes are among Ukraine’s most important reservoirs of agrobiodiversity, traditional farming knowledge, and ecosystem services, making them ideal locations for demonstrating nature-positive agricultural practices.

The forthcoming interventions are designed around the principles of agroecology, an approach inspired by natural ecosystems that strengthens the interactions between plants, livestock, pollinators, soil organisms, people, and the wider environment. Rather than relying heavily on external chemical inputs, agroecology promotes biological processes that restore soil fertility, improve nutrient, carbon, and water cycles, increase biodiversity, and enhance the resilience of farming systems to climate change. Through diversified production systems and sustainable land management, farmers can improve productivity while reducing production costs and protecting the ecological integrity of mountain landscapes.

Preparing the Ground for Agroecological Landscapes

Over the coming months, TGI Ukraine will work closely with farming communities, hromadas, local authorities, universities, extension specialists, and producer groups to establish the institutional and technical foundations required for successful implementation. Preparatory activities include stakeholder consultations, participatory landscape assessments, identification of demonstration farms, farmer mobilization, baseline studies, training needs assessments, and development of locally adapted agroecological models that reflect the unique environmental and socio-economic conditions of the Carpathian Mountains.

The programme will promote integrated farming systems that improve biodiversity, strengthen local food systems, and increase resilience to climate variability while conserving the rich natural heritage of the region.

Planned Agroecological Intervention Components

The intervention package currently being developed includes the integration of:

• Apiculture and pollinator-friendly farming systems.
• Community-based conservation of the Carpathian honey bee.
• Homestead poultry integrated with diversified farming.
• Livestock integrated with crop production.
• Forage and climate-resilient grass production.
• Leguminous crops for biological nitrogen fixation.
• Cover cropping to protect and regenerate soils.
• Crop diversification, intercropping, and crop rotations.
• Traditional mountain crops and neglected local varieties.
• Millet and other climate-resilient cereals where locally suitable.
• Agroforestry, orchards, and silvopastoral production systems.
• Green manure production and biological soil restoration.
• Microbial biofertilizers and environmentally safe biopesticides.
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to minimize chemical dependence.
• Regenerative agriculture practices, including no-till farming, compost production, compost tea application, pasture cropping, ecological grazing management, perennial cropping systems, and ecological aquaculture where feasible.
• Community-governed seed banks for conserving traditional crop diversity.
• Farmer-led seed selection, storage, multiplication, and preservation.
• Revival of soil biology through organic matter management and reduced chemical use.

Towards Climate-Resilient Mountain Agriculture

The planned interventions seek to demonstrate that diversified agroecological farming systems can simultaneously improve farm productivity, conserve biodiversity, strengthen ecosystem services, and create new livelihood opportunities for mountain communities. By integrating crops, livestock, pollinators, trees, and healthy soils within resilient farming landscapes, TGI Ukraine aims to reduce production risks while enhancing food security, environmental sustainability, and climate adaptation. The preparatory phase also includes developing partnerships with research institutions, local governments, farmer organizations, and international collaborators to establish demonstration sites, farmer learning networks, and long-term knowledge exchange platforms. Once implemented, the programme is expected to serve as a replicable model for agroecological transition in other mountain and rural regions of Ukraine, contributing to the country’s green recovery, sustainable agriculture, and conservation of its unique Carpathian agrobiodiversity.

For further information, contact: mail@tgi.org.ua