UfU-Projects are tackling environmental challenges of farmers in Kazakhstan
On 17th of July 2024, the Independent Institute for Environmental Issues (UfU) in Berlin was honoured to host a delegation from Kazakhstan, including Mr. Aslan Abdraimov, the Vice Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, and Mrs. Aziza Dyussenova, the First Secretary at the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Germany. This visit was a significant step forward in working together on critical environmental challenges in Kazakhstan.
During the meeting, UfU representatives, including Dr. Michael Zschiesche, Sami Çeltikoğlu, and Dr. Arne Reck, provided a comprehensive overview of ongoing and planned projects in Kazakhstan and discussed environmental challenges that Kazakhstan is facing now and in the future. The discussions focused on the UfU-projects ZIVIKLI, Projekt4646 and CarbonIQ and their scientific findings. These projects are contributing uniquely to sustainable agricultural practices and climate change adaptation in Kazakhstan.
Why is UfU working in Kazakhstan?
Kazakhstan plays an important role in the global food supply chain. Agriculture is a critical element in Kazakhstan’s economic, social and environmental development, with over 79.3% of the country’s land area devoted to agricultural production – approximately 29,669,700 hectares of arable land (World Bank, 2021; Macrotrends, 2020). The agricultural production of Kazakhstan is producing gigantic exports of wheat and flour. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) predicts that by 2030 the combined wheat production of Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Russia will account for 25-30% of global wheat exports, up from 21% today. Kazakhstan’s role as a food supplier is especially important for the Middle East and North Africa and therefor important for their food supply.
Due to climate change, Kazakhstan’s agriculture is facing challenges such as drought or flooding and a change in the average annual temperature, which could jeopardise food production in the future, if Kazakhstan is unable to adapt its agriculture to the changing environmental conditions. At the same time, Kazakhstan’s farmers are looking for alternative ways to produce their products environmental friendly and with less impact for soil and nature as Kazakhstan like other countries has set a target to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels from over 80% to around 50% by 2050 (Karatayev et al. 2022). The country also aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 (World Bank, 2023). As UfU has a wide experience in restauration of soil and soil protection, our aim is to support farmers in Kazakhstan tackle those challenges and to contribute to the security of the world’s food supply while securing an environmental friendly agriculture.
The Water Resources and Irrigation Ministry of Kazakhstan
The provision of water for agricultural industry is one of the most critical points if it comes to securing the food production. Kazakhstan faces significant challenges such as water scarcity for agriculture, frequent droughts, and occasional severe floods due to changing climate conditions. Therefore, a year ago Kazakhstan founded a new Ministry, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation. Unlike Germany, which does not have a dedicated ministry for water resources, the ministry plays a critical role in managing the country’s water resources and practices to cope with climate extremes. To support this, UfU provides strategic insights from its projects for a robust framework to implement sustainable agricultural practices. The Ministry is keen to use the data and strategies developed through these projects to inform national policies and implement practical solutions on the ground.
Visit of Kazakhstani Students
On 18th of July 2024, UfU also hosted students with an agricultural background from various Kazakhstani universities as part of Apollo e.V.’s “Agricultural Internship Program in Brandenburg.” The students were briefed on the impact of climate change on agriculture and the innovative solutions being implemented through UfU’s projects. The session, led by Sami Çeltikoğlu and Dr. Arne Reck, sparked significant interest in the CarbonIQ project, particularly its potential to transform agricultural practices in Kazakhstan.
The visit of the Kazakhstani delegation to UfU marked a significant step towards strengthening environmental cooperation between Kazakhstan and Germany. The in-depth discussions and project insights provided a solid foundation for future cooperation aimed at improving sustainable agricultural practices and climate resilience in Kazakhstan. UfU remains committed to supporting Kazakhstan in its journey towards environmental sustainability and climate adaptation.
UfU Projects in Kazakhstan
Projekt4646
The aim of “Project4646” is to conduct a feasibility study on the topics “climate change in agriculture, food safety and know-how transfer between Germany and the Republic of Kazakhstan” and comprises two study phases. In the first step, a preliminary study on the perception of climate change by farmers, political decision-makers and agricultural stakeholders is carried out by interviewing focus groups. In the second step, a direct survey of farmers regarding their perception of the climate crisis will be conducted.
Projekt CarbonIQ
The CarbonIQ pilot study aims to provide a basis for decision-making on the feasibility of carbon farming in Kazakhstan as an important environmental protection and climate change mitigation technology. Specifically, the CarbonIQ project aims to assess the carbon storage potential of Kazakh soils, estimate their capacity and analyse important impacts such as the promotion of biodiversity. “CarbonIQ” also supports economic sustainability by unlocking the potential of soil carbon storage for farmers. Farmers can thus see first-hand how sustainable farming practices can benefit both nature and their own incomes.