Kazakhstan has inaugurated its first carbon agro-climatic testing ground, Kaz Agro Carbon, at the A.I. Barayev Scientific and Production Center for Grain Farming, marking a significant step toward climate-resilient agriculture.
The project is a collaborative effort between the agriculture ministries of Kazakhstan and Russia, the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan, and scientists from the University of Hannover in Germany.
According to the Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture, the new facility is designed to manage soil carbon, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance the climate resilience of the agricultural sector.
Kaz Agro Carbon will act as a pilot site for joint research focused on measuring, modeling, and managing the carbon balance in Northern Kazakhstan. Researchers aim to develop technologies that reduce emissions and boost carbon dioxide absorption in local ecosystems.
“Kaz Agro Carbon is a platform for integrating science, innovation, and real-world production. It will help preserve soil fertility, adapt agriculture to climate change, and develop a national carbon balance management system. This is an important step toward developing climate-smart agriculture in Kazakhstan,” said Timur Savin, Chairman of the Board at the Scientific and Production Center for Grain Farming, during the opening ceremony.
Amid global efforts to combat climate change, carbon farming is emerging as a strategic growth area for Kazakhstan’s agricultural sector.
According to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Kaz Agro Carbon is equipped for year-round monitoring of ecosystem conditions. The site will track soil carbon levels as well as key meteorological data such as temperature, humidity, and precipitation.
Kazakhstan’s carbon sequestration potential is estimated at up to 535 million tons annually. The development of carbon offset trading mechanisms could attract as much as $25 billion per year to the national economy. The new facility will provide farmers with the tools to certify accumulated carbon and participate in the emerging carbon quota market, positioning Kazakhstan to take an active role in international emissions trading.
