Ukraine’s sinking population is attributable to lifestyle, such as food and alcohol consumption, as well as safety and environmental factors. This is a reversible trend. 

It is also just one of the areas the Kyiv Post/East Europe Foundation Conference on Food Safety & Security will focus on April 24. This is the second in a series of conferences in which we examine critical issues.

When I landed in Ukraine 18 years ago, the average life expectancy for Ukrainian males, according to the World Health Organization, was 60. The population of the country was 51.7 million. Today, that population has sunk to 45.5 million, though male life expectancy edged up to 63 (73 for women). Still, Ukrainian men live generally 14 fewer years than their Western Europe counterparts.

Ukraine’s population drain is not attributable to outward migration. Demographic specialist Iryna Kutylo said in a The Ukrainian Week article recently that migration and immigration balanced out in 2005.

“We can say with certainty that there is a steady trend of depopulation—the mortality rate is higher than the birth rate,” she said. Kutylo called Ukraine one of the fastest depopulating countries in the world. Last year, around 600,000 Ukrainians died while there were 480,000 births. 

Ukrainians—particularly males—die for obvious reasons.

They drink too much. They eat too much of the wrong kinds of foods. Many work in unhealthy and unsafe environments. Also, the incidence of diabetes is increasing with the change in food consumption habits.

This Kyiv Post/EEF Conferences felt food safety was particularly timely, and one we believe will garner the attention of government official, regulators, agribusiness, food manufacturers and retailers in the business of feeding Ukraine. 

In a country with an abundance of lush, arable land. the safety and security of the food chain is paramount. 

In November 2012, the Kyiv Post/EEF produced its debut program, the first annual Tiger Conference on Ukraine’s economic future. That highly successful event drew speakers from as far away as Malaysia and was keynoted by President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia. Attendees participated in wide-ranging discussions on topics from energy to information technology and finance.

Response to the forward-looking Tiger Conference was gratifying, but many participants expressed an interest in devoting more time to examine particular topics in greater depth than is possible for a general one-day annual conference.  

So this year, in addition to the second annual Tiger Conference later in 2013, Kyiv Post Conferences is organizing a series of highly focused one-day conferences, each devoted to one particular theme.

During this positive, high-level conference, speakers and panelists will consider realistic strategies to help Ukraine reclaim the title “breadbasket of Europe” and ensure the sustainable production and sale of safe, healthy foods for its own people and for the world.  

Among the topics discussed will be the following: 

Does safety matter to consumers, business, and government? Growth potential for non-traditional Ukrainian crops. Diet and preferences: Is the Ukrainian palate really different? Vegetable fat: A wolf in sheep’s clothes or a scapegoat? What does safe food mean for business? What can business do to ensure safety? Is business interested? The GMO controversy. Opportunities for organic farms 

The Kyiv Post and the East Europe Foundation look forward to your support and participation. 

Kyiv Post CEO Michael Willard can be reached at [email protected].