Chef helps struggling dairies

Chris McCullough For Agri-View

A Spanish-American chef earlier this year secured 62 generators to be used on Ukrainian dairy farms near the front lines – dairies that are struggling with power supplies. Via his “Longer Tables Fund,” Chef Jose Andres supported the international charity SaveUA Foundation. He donated 62 generators rated at 80 kilowatts and 100 kilowatts, each capable of powering a farm with 200 to 800 cows. They were delivered to a number of dairy farms milking a total of more than 40,000 cows in regions of Ukraine most affected by the war and electricity blackouts.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has continued to target Ukraine’s energy network. That’s having a huge detrimental impact on homes and businesses, particularly farms.

Andrii Dykun, founder of the SaveUA Foundation, said the generators are much more than just a source of electricity. They are vital for the Ukrainian dairy-farming industry to survive.

He said, “Due to the damage to the energy infrastructure, power outages last from several hours to several days, threatening the food security of Ukraine.

“For dairy farms, even one or two hours of outages are critical, as they result in a loss of at least one liter of daily milk yield, and recovery to the previous level of productivity takes months.

“These generators will power milking equipment and refrigeration systems, ensuring that farmers can continue their work, support their communities and feed their people even in the face of incredible challenges.

“This isn’t just about keeping the lights on; it’s about keeping Ukraine’s farms and economy going.”

During the summer heat wave in 2024, emergency power shutdowns lasted more than 16 hours each day. Dairy farms with no backup systems had huge problems battling heat stress in their cows, resulting in 20 percent to 40 percent decreases in milk yield.

The farms provided with generators collectively manage about 40,000 cows. Almost 1.5 million Ukrainians consume dairy products every year made from the raw milk they supply.

Thanks to the humanitarian support with generators, dairy farmers will have additional support to maintain milk production and the health of their cows.

Andres said, “It’s an honor to stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine’s dairy farmers and support the vital work of SaveUA. I’m inspired by the bravery and solidarity of these farmers, and I am proud that the purchase of generators for war-affected dairy farms will help Ukraine continue to feed its people.

“Over these last three years, we’ve learned so much about resilience, about innovation, about community, and about the power of food to inspire hope. I know this is only a first step on the road to rebuilding Ukraine’s food-production capabilities that the world depends on, but I hope it (brought) immediate relief and stability to those who feed their communities."

He’s spent more than 100 days on the ground in Ukraine since the start of the invasion, leading his team from World Central Kitchen. They’ve provided more than 270 million meals to Ukrainians.

This is an original article written for Agri-View, a Lee Enterprises agricultural publication based in Madison, Wisconsin. Visit AgriView.com for more information.