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Food Innovation

Scientists in Kazakhstan Develop Antioxidant Supplement for Disease Prevention

Scientists in Kazakhstan are developing a dietary supplement containing antioxidants that is intended to help reduce the risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The project is being carried out by the Kazakh Research Institute of Processing and Food Industry. The development is taking place in Almaty and is based on the use of domestically sourced plant raw materials, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. The ministry says the aim is to create an affordable functional food product with high antioxidant activity. The key component of the supplement is lycopene, a natural carotenoid found in tomatoes, watermelons, and grapefruits. Lycopene is known for its antioxidant properties and its potential role in reducing oxidative stress, which is associated with the development of various chronic diseases. According to the ministry, insufficient intake of antioxidants may contribute to weakened immune function and an increased risk of chronic conditions. As part of the project, researchers have already developed technologies to produce powders from tomatoes and watermelons while preserving their biological properties. Freeze-drying and infrared drying methods are being used for this purpose. Official information indicates that the supplement’s formulation includes lycopene, tomato and watermelon powders, pumpkin seed powder, and safflower oil. This combination is expected to improve bioavailability and make the product convenient for regular use. The Ministry of Agriculture says the development reflects growing demand for functional foods both in Kazakhstan and internationally. The product could eventually be targeted for export markets. Officials also expect the project to reduce dependence on imported food additives, expand the domestic raw material base for the processing industry, and create new opportunities for the development of the agro-industrial sector. The Times of Central Asia previously reported on another innovation by Kazakh scientists: a mobile unit designed to process and store agricultural products for extended periods.

Agriculture

Kyrgyzstan Plans $10 Million Animal Vaccine Plant to Strengthen Livestock Sector

Kyrgyzstan is planning to build a modern animal vaccine production facility as part of broader efforts to improve disease prevention and support the development of its livestock sector. The project was discussed on March 17 during a meeting between Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry Erlist Akunbekov and representatives of Altyn Tamyr Joint-Stock Company. Altyn Tamyr is currently the country’s only producer of veterinary biopreparations, supplying the domestic market and exporting products to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Azerbaijan. Akunbekov described the planned facility as a strategic initiative and instructed officials to ensure that construction and commissioning proceed as quickly as possible. Preliminary estimates put the cost of the project at approximately $10 million. The government is expected to support the initiative through preferential financing and by creating favorable conditions for investors. Officials say the plant will help strengthen veterinary safety standards and improve productivity in the livestock sector. Once operational, it is also expected to enable Kyrgyzstan not only to meet domestic demand for veterinary vaccines but also to expand exports. The project comes amid continued growth in the country’s livestock population. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, as of the end of 2024 Kyrgyzstan had 1,828,527 head of cattle, an increase of 1.5% compared with the previous year, including 918,638 cows, up 1.8%. The number of sheep and goats reached 6,282,810, a year-on-year increase of 1.1%, while the horse population grew by 2% to 553,531 head. Poultry numbers rose more sharply, increasing by 10.5% to 7,724,314. To obtain more precise data, Kyrgyzstan plans to conduct a nationwide agricultural census from March 20 to April 10, 2026. Experts note that strengthening veterinary infrastructure will be crucial for sustaining growth in the livestock sector and expanding the country’s agricultural exports.

Agriculture

Livestock Numbers Are Growing in Kyrgyzstan as Authorities Expand Pasturelands

Spring fieldwork has begun in Kyrgyzstan, including the sowing of wheat and barley and efforts to expand the forage base for livestock farming. The Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry has also started planting pastures with forage crops. Myktybek Kalandarov, head of the Department of Breeding Livestock Production, confirmed the work in an interview on state radio. Kalandarov said that approximately 15,000 hectares of pastureland have already been sown with forage crops this year. A further 10,000 hectares of high-altitude pastures were planted in the autumn. Authorities plan to continue expanding pasture resources, with another 10,000 hectares scheduled for planting in the coming months. About $570,000 has been allocated in 2026 to support these measures. Kalandarov added that revenue generated from pasture use should be reinvested in their restoration and development. “Revenue comes from payments for pasture use, about $0.23 per sheep or goat grazed and approximately $1.15 per cow,” he said. The increase in pasture investment is linked to rising livestock numbers. According to data from the National Statistical Committee, the country’s total livestock population has grown by 6.6% over the past five years. As of the end of 2025, farms across all categories had approximately 1.8 million cattle, a 1.7% increase compared with the previous year. The number of sheep and goats reached 6.3 million, up 0.8%. Positive trends have also been recorded in horse breeding, poultry farming, pig farming, and yak breeding. Agricultural sector representatives say growing demand for animal feed is influencing crop patterns. Zakir Koombayev, director of a farm in the Chui Region, told The Times of Central Asia that farmers are increasingly diversifying their forage crops. “Previously, we mainly planted spring crops such as wheat and barley. Now, given the growth in livestock numbers, we have ordered feed corn seeds from southern Russia,” he said. Experts note that the future development of livestock farming in Kyrgyzstan will largely depend on effective pasture management and the sustainability of the country’s feed base.

Agriculture

Kyrgyzstan Moves to Expand Organic Farming but Certification Barriers Limit Exports

Kyrgyzstan is stepping up efforts to expand organic agriculture, but limited access to international certification continues to pose a major obstacle to export growth. The country currently has nine agricultural cooperatives and 30 organic farmland plots covering about 61,500 hectares. Certified organic land accounts for just over 5% of total arable land. Cooperatives operating under international standards produce crops such as cotton, herbs, apricots, and grains for export to more than 30 countries. Smaller farms, however, often rely on the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS), a low-cost, community-based certification model mainly used for domestic markets. Despite strong potential for high-value organic products, including berries and vegetables, obtaining international certification remains costly and administratively complex for small producers. To address these challenges, the government adopted a development programme for 2025-2029. The strategy aims to expand organic farmland to 200,000 hectares, transition the Issyk-Kul and Naryn regions toward predominantly organic production, and increase the share of organic products to 25% of both total agricultural output and exports. Officials view organic farming as an important tool for sustainable rural development. However, further expansion of the sector will depend largely on improving access to internationally recognized certification systems.

Meat Exports

Kazakhstan Maintains Meat Exports to the UAE and Plans to Increase Shipments

Kazakhstani producers continue to export meat products to the United Arab Emirates despite logistical complications caused by the conflict in the Middle East. Shipments are also expected to increase, according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Trade and Integration. Military developments in the region, including hostilities affecting Iranian territory since February 28, have disrupted logistics for several Central Asian countries. Nevertheless, Kazakhstani exporters have managed to maintain their presence in Middle Eastern markets. According to the ministry, seven tons of chilled lamb were exported to the UAE over the past week. Deliveries are being carried out with the support of the ministry and the national export development operator QazTrade. Authorities aim to raise lamb exports to a regular level of ten tons per week. Shipments are taking place amid ongoing challenges in international logistics in the Persian Gulf region. International carriers report that restrictions on air traffic and disruptions to certain transport routes continue to affect cargo transport, particularly for perishable goods. To ensure stable exports, government agencies have strengthened cooperation with industry associations, including the Union of Livestock Breeders of Kazakhstan, the Union of Poultry Breeders of Kazakhstan, and the National Association of Meat Processors. The ministry states that Kazakhstan fully meets domestic demand for meat products. Export deliveries are carried out using surplus production volumes, enabling farmers to expand their access to foreign markets. A significant share of the food market in Gulf countries relies on imports. According to estimates by international organizations, up to 85-90% of food products in the UAE are imported. By the end of 2025, Kazakhstan’s total exports to the UAE amounted to $132.9 million. Mutton accounted for about 55% of food exports. Kazakhstan has been supplying mutton to the UAE market since 2021. In recent years, the country has actively expanded food exports to Middle Eastern markets, including shipments of grain, flour, vegetable oils, and meat products. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture, by the end of the 2024/2025 marketing year (September-August), exports of grain and flour in grain equivalent reached 15.3 million tons, 60% higher than the previous year. In the current marketing year, shipments of grain and flour from the new harvest have already reached 8.5 million tons, representing a 14% increase compared with the same period in 2025.

Agriculture

Uzbekistan to Borrow $400 Million to Accelerate Agricultural Mechanization

Uzbekistan has approved a plan to attract up to $400 million in foreign loans to finance the purchase of agricultural machinery and equipment, according to a presidential decree signed on March 13. The initiative is intended to increase the level of mechanization in the agricultural sector, with particular emphasis on cotton harvesting. Officials have set a target of achieving a 70% share of machine-assisted cotton picking in 2026, aiming to improve efficiency and reduce labor intensity. Under the decree, commercial banks will distribute foreign credit lines provided under state guarantees to farmers and agricultural enterprises. The loans will have a maturity period of up to 10 years, including a two-year grace period. Interest rates will be set at the Central Bank’s base rate plus a 4% margin charged by participating banks. Payments for cotton and grain harvesters supplied through these preferential loans and leasing arrangements in 2026 will be scheduled twice a year, on January 31 and July 31. Uzbekistan has officially abolished Soviet-era practices of forced labor and eliminated state cotton production quotas in 2020. The government has also cooperated with the International Labour Organization to monitor labor conditions in the sector. In March 2022, the international coalition Cotton Campaign lifted its boycott of Uzbek cotton, citing the elimination of systemic forced labor that had previously prompted more than 330 global brands to avoid sourcing from the country.