On August 12, 2024, on the common air of two Belarussian pro-government media outlets “Alpha Radio” and “SB TV,” MP Oleg Gaidukevich discussed Belarus’ agricultural might and the European Union’s food security.
“Thank goodness we didn’t destroy agriculture in the 90s! Thank goodness the president has been maintaining the collective farms — to destroy is not to build. This fairy tale that we'll now turn everyone into farmers and live happily ever after... Look at Europe today, where their agriculture — it's all been destroyed. Enormous problems, how much they're buying,” the representative said.
The European Union’s agricultural exports were valued at $230 billion in 2023, outpacing their imports by nearly one and a half times.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization lists the Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy among the Top ten food exporters worldwide.
The 2022 global food security map compiled by The Economist magazine shows that among European nations, Belarus ranks third-to-last on this criterion. Only Serbia and Ukraine rank lower. However, the Baltic states and Western Balkans are not included in this index. However, in terms of food quality and safety, as per the map's compilers, Belarus is ranked last in Europe, mainly due to food nutrient imbalance.
Our readers may recall the WTF's earlier piece on the availability of healthy, affordable food in Belarus and the region. On June 7, 2024, Belarus’ MP Yulia Volkova stated that only 0.2% of Belarusians lack access to adequate nutrition, a proportion lower than in neighboring countries. Our neighbors allegedly have higher rates. Read our fact-checking.
As for the affordability of food for the population based on its cost, Belarus ranks second-to-last in Europe. War-torn Ukraine lags behind Belarus by just one step.