22 July 2026 — The Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), has officially launched three strategic projects aimed at accelerating the modernization of the country's agricultural sector through innovation, sustainable land management, and scientific cooperation.
The projects were inaugurated during a kick-off seminar held in Astana under the FAO–Kazakhstan Partnership Programme, a ten-year cooperation framework between the Government of Kazakhstan and FAO designed to promote sustainable agricultural development, strengthen food security, and facilitate the adoption of international best practices.
During the event, Vice Minister of Agriculture of Kazakhstan Yermek Kenzhekhanuly met with Raimund Jehle, FAO Deputy Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia, to discuss the implementation of the Partnership Programme, future areas of cooperation, the application of innovative technologies in agriculture, and the expansion of scientific collaboration.
The first project will establish a national system for monitoring, assessing, and verifying soil organic carbon, providing a scientific foundation for sustainable land management, improved soil fertility, and the development of Kazakhstan's national carbon market.
The second project focuses on strengthening locust monitoring and forecasting systems through the use of artificial intelligence and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). These digital technologies are expected to improve the early detection of pest outbreaks, increase forecasting accuracy, and support more effective decision-making.
The third initiative, titled "Kazakh Varieties and Seeds", aims to promote domestic plant breeding and seed production, conserve plant genetic resources, and increase the visibility of Kazakhstan-developed crop varieties. A particular emphasis will be placed on preserving and promoting the historic Almaty Aport apple variety, recognized as one of the country's iconic horticultural symbols.
Throughout the two-day seminar, representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture, FAO, United Nations agencies, research institutions, industry associations, and private-sector partners will review project implementation plans, strengthen interagency coordination, and exchange international experience in climate-resilient agriculture, digital transformation, natural resource management, and agricultural risk management.
📌 Source: Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
