The relationship between Russia and Ukraine is as much about soil as it is about politics. The fertile black earth of Ukraine—cherished by empires, fought over by nations—has been both a source of great prosperity and deep conflict. And today, as world leaders negotiate the terms of peace, the historical struggle for control over Ukraine’s agricultural bounty remains as relevant as ever.

Join John and Patrick as they unearth the long and complex history of fresh produce and agriculture in shaping the geopolitics of Russia and Ukraine. From the legendary chernozem soil to Kyivan Rus, the rise of Odessa as a grain powerhouse, and Catherine the Great’s imperial ambitions, this episode explores how wheat, trade routes, and the struggle for control over food supply have influenced centuries of war, conquest, and diplomacy.

With echoes of history playing out in the present, this is a story that stretches from medieval markets to modern battlefields—one where agriculture is not just a means of survival, but a tool of power.

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In Sponsorship with Cornell University: Dyson Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

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