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Agriculture

Kazakhstan Expands Grain Exports to Europe and Beyond

Kazakhstan is entering new grain export markets, including the United Kingdom, Norway, and Portugal, as part of a broader push to diversify its agricultural trade, Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov has announced. Saparov reported that the 2025 harvest has been one of the strongest in recent years, with 27.1 million tons of grain crops harvested from 16 million hectares. The average yield reached 17 centners per hectare, and wheat production totaled 20.3 million tons, an increase of 500,000 tons compared to last year. “We plan to maintain the level of wheat exports. This year, we have begun supplying markets that have not traditionally received Kazakh grain, Belgium, Portugal, Poland, Norway, the United Kingdom, Vietnam, the United Arab Emirates, as well as Morocco, Algeria, and Egypt in North Africa. Additionally, we have resumed shipments to Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia,” Saparov said. Kazakhstan exported 13.4 million tons of grain during the last marketing year (September 1, 2024, August 31, 2025), a 47% increase compared to the 2023-2024 season. As of the latest data, 2.2 million tons of grain from the new harvest have already been exported, marking a 21% year-on-year increase. New Investments in Deep Grain Processing To support long-term export potential and value-added production, Kazakhstan is implementing five major investment projects aimed at deep grain processing. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, these initiatives will enable the additional processing of approximately 2.5 million tons of grain products annually. Among the most significant is a $1.5 billion investment by China’s Hopefull Grain & Oil Group to build a deep grain processing plant in the Akmola region. The project was discussed by Deputy Minister Yermek Kenzhehanuly and Hopefull’s local project manager, Yao Yao. The project will be rolled out in two phases. The first phase includes constructing a combined heat and power plant to generate renewable energy. The second phase will launch a high-tech facility to produce citric acid, glucose-fructose syrups, bioethanol, and protein concentrates. The company is also considering establishing an industrial park equipped with transport, energy, and engineering infrastructure. Focus on the Chinese Market As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan also aims to increase grain exports to China to two million tons per year. This expansion into Asia complements the country’s growing presence in European and Middle Eastern markets.

Agriculture

Kazakhstan Launches First Carbon Agro-Climatic Testing Ground

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.

Agriculture

Uzbekistan Sends Over 20 Crop Varieties to Global Seed Vault in Norway

Uzbekistan has deposited more than 20 types of agricultural crop seeds, including varieties of watermelon, melon, and eggplant, into the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, the world’s most secure seed storage facility, located in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, the Ministry of Agriculture has announced. According to the ministry, the seed samples represent ancient and local Uzbek crop varieties and were delivered through a joint effort involving Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Agriculture, the Scientific Research Institute of Plant Genetic Resources, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Nordic Genetic Resource Center (NordGen). Officials say the initiative marks a significant step in Uzbekistan’s efforts to preserve genetic diversity, strengthen its national gene pool, and contribute to global food security. The seeds deposited include traditional varieties of melon, watermelon, tomato, pepper, eggplant, carrot, onion, and wheat. Among these, the native “Qayroqtosh” wheat variety is of particular cultural and agricultural importance. Representatives from the Institute of Plant Genetic Resources emphasized that the initiative reflects Uzbekistan’s ongoing commitment to protecting plant biodiversity, supporting global food resilience, and safeguarding genetic material for future generations. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, located deep within the Arctic permafrost and maintained at a constant temperature of -18°C, currently stores more than 1.1 million seed samples from around the world. Operated by the Norwegian government in partnership with the Crop Trust and NordGen, the vault provides a secure backup for global seed collections, offering protection against threats such as climate change, natural disasters, or geopolitical crises.

Glaciers

Glacier-Dependent Central Asian States to Benefit from ADB Climate Program

On October 29, the Green Climate Fund approved $250 million for Glaciers to Farms, a major adaptation initiative led by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to build climate-resilient water and agricultural systems in glacier-dependent regions of Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Pakistan. The funding, provided mostly as grants, will complement a broader $3.25 billion investment by ADB over the next decade. The program spans nine countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. These states rely heavily on glacier- and snow-fed rivers for agriculture, drinking water, and electricity. Accelerated glacial melt poses a direct threat to ecosystems and rural livelihoods, particularly in areas where one in four jobs depends on agriculture. By improving irrigation efficiency, expanding water storage, and investing in watershed management, the program seeks to reduce the growing frequency of droughts and floods linked to glacial melt. Glaciers to Farms will focus on four major glacier-fed river basins: the Naryn and Pyanj in Central Asia, the Kura in the South Caucasus, and the Swat in Pakistan. These basins cover about 27 million hectares and are home to an estimated 13 million people. The program will support glacier and climate assessments, upgrade monitoring networks, and introduce early warning systems to help communities prepare for glacial lake outburst floods and prolonged droughts. Beyond infrastructure, Glaciers to Farms will strengthen the capacity of local banks to finance agricultural enterprises, particularly those led by women, as part of its inclusive development approach. Climate-induced glacial retreat is a pressing concern for Central Asia, where glaciers supply up to 70 percent of river flows. The region contains more than 4,500 glacial lakes, many formed as a result of retreating ice. These lakes increase the risk of natural disasters such as lake outburst floods, avalanches, and landslides, threatening vulnerable mountain communities. Recognizing the urgency, the United Nations General Assembly has declared 2025 the International Year of Glacier Preservation. Tajikistan hosted the International Conference on Glaciers’ Preservation in Dushanbe in May, highlighting the region’s central role in global climate adaptation efforts.

Agriculture

Central Asia Loses 14 Million Tons of Crops Annually Due to Poor Storage Infrastructure

Each year, approximately 14 million tons of agricultural products are lost across Central Asia due to inadequate storage infrastructure, according to a recent analytical report from the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB). In Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, so-called “dry warehouses” remain the norm. A significant share of produce is stored in facilities lacking the conditions necessary for long-term preservation. As a result, large volumes of crops spoil annually, especially during seasonal peaks. The EDB notes that Eurasian countries are entering a new logistics phase. The rapid growth of e-commerce and retail expansion is generating unprecedented demand for modern warehouse infrastructure. According to the bank’s projections, total demand for warehouse space in the region will double by 2040, surpassing 120 million square meters. Between 2020 and 2024, the region’s total warehouse space increased from 48 to 58 million square meters. Russia remains the dominant player, with around 53 million square meters of commercial and logistics space. Central Asian countries, however, continue to lag far behind. Crop losses peak during the autumn harvest and spring sales of residual stock. During these times, buffer storage and efficient transport logistics are critical. Without these, “farmers are forced to sell surpluses at the lowest price or throw them away,” EDB analysts warn. Experts identify the warehouse sector as a key driver of trade growth in Eurasia. Realizing this potential, however, will require coordinated action among governments, businesses, and international institutions. The report emphasizes the need for a unified institutional environment to enhance investment appeal and market transparency. “The region, which has long remained on the periphery of global logistics flows, is now shaping a new map of Eurasian logistics. In the coming years, the market will remain highly dynamic: more than 20 million square meters of new warehouse space is planned for commissioning, including 1.6 million square meters in Central Asian countries,” the report states. Kyrgyzstan serves as a case in point. In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, agriculture was the country’s only growing sector. Yet farmers struggled with oversupply, cabbage, in particular, had to be fed to livestock or discarded due to a lack of buyers and storage facilities. A similar situation unfolded with potatoes.

Grain export

Kazakhstan to Maintain Grain Exports in 2025 to 2026 Season

Kazakhstan plans to maintain grain exports above 12 million tons in the 2025–2026 marketing season, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Azat Sultanov said at a recent briefing. Grain exports for the current 2024–2025 season reached a record 13.4 million tons, according to Sultanov. “Taking into account this year’s harvest, we forecast that next year’s exports will not fall below last year’s level, that is, more than 12 million tons,” he said. To date, 15.6 million hectares, 88.6% of the total planted area, have been harvested, yielding an average of 16.9 centners per hectare and producing 26.6 million tons of grain. This output will fully meet domestic needs for food, fodder, and seeds, while reinforcing Kazakhstan’s position in its traditional export markets. Wheat has been harvested from 12 million hectares, 99% of the cultivated area, at a yield of 16.5 centners per hectare, resulting in approximately 20 million tons. Barley and oats produced 2.4 million tons, and corn yielded 852,000 tons. Sultanov also noted that Kazakhstan has re-entered several previously lost markets, including Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan, and Armenia, where demand for Kazakh wheat is on the rise. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan has increased its imports of Kazakh wheat eightfold. Licensed grain receiving enterprises have already received 6.7 million tons from the new harvest, twice the volume recorded at the same time last year. As part of efforts to diversify crop production, special attention has been given to legumes and oilseeds. This year’s legume harvest reached 1 million tons, and the country expects a record oilseed yield of about 4 million tons, of which 3.3 million tons have already been collected. Potatoes have been harvested from 99 percent of the planted area, totaling 130,000 hectares and producing 2.9 million tons. Sultanov said this volume should prevent the shortages and price surges experienced earlier this year. The vegetable harvest totaled 3.9 million tons, while melon crops reached 2.6 million tons.