THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN HAS BECOME THE CENTER OF GLOBAL AGRICULTURAL DIALOGUE: VI INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE I-CRAFT 2026

On 22 September 2026, the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan hosted the 6th International Conference on Research in Agricultural and Food Technologies (I-CRAFT 2026).

The forum brought together scientists from Kazakhstan and abroad, leaders of research institutions and universities, government officials, agribusiness representatives and technology developers. Experts in plant breeding and genetics, animal science, food engineering, ecology, digitalization and precision agriculture gathered at a single venue.

The conference focused on practical solutions to strengthen food security, help the agricultural sector adapt to climate change and accelerate the transfer of scientific advances into production.

Opening the conference, Akhylbek Kurishbayev, President of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, said that modern agricultural science must enable higher production and better food quality while using less water, energy and other resources. He identified four interconnected priorities: climate-resilient breeding and seed production, sustainable livestock farming, science-based water and soil management, and advanced processing of agricultural products.

“The success of this conference should not be measured solely by the number of presentations. Its main outcomes should be joint research, technologies proven in practice, and solutions that meet the needs of industry and society,” Akhylbek Kurishbayev said. To advance international cooperation, he proposed developing the Almaty Research Agenda on Sustainable Agri-Food Technologies, which would support joint projects, international research teams and the training of young scientists.

The I-CRAFT 2026 agenda directly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 2, Zero Hunger, which calls for food security and sustainable agriculture, and SDG 15, Life on Land, which promotes sustainable land use, the prevention of land degradation and the conservation of natural ecosystems.

Smart and precision agriculture was one of the conference's central themes. Participants explored the use of artificial intelligence, big data and predictive analytics, digital land monitoring, unmanned aerial vehicles, GPS technologies and robotics. These tools enable more accurate assessment of farmland and more efficient management of production resources.

The programme also highlighted advanced breeding, genomics, phenomics and biotechnology methods for developing climate-resilient crop varieties. Other discussions covered sustainable water and land use, soil fertility conservation, and ways to reduce the environmental and climate footprint of crop and livestock production.

In food technology, the scientific programme covered innovative methods for processing and storing agricultural raw materials, functional foods and the preservation of nutritional value. These advances are particularly important for reducing food loss and improving the competitiveness of agricultural products.

Prominent international researchers presenting their work at I-CRAFT 2026 included Da-Wen Sun, Vida Šimat, Tuba Esatbeyoğlu, Brijesh K. Tiwari, Alexander N. Hristov, Yong Suk Chung, Faheem Shahzad Baloch, M. Cüneyt Bağdatlı, İlknur Bağdatlı and Çağdaş Civelek.

The conference in Almaty continued the international I-CRAFT series following earlier forums in Tashkent and Ganja, further strengthening Kazakhstan's role as a regional hub for cooperation in agricultural science and food technology. I-CRAFT 2026 provided a platform for dialogue among researchers, educators and agribusiness, with a focus on building research partnerships and bringing production-ready solutions into practice.

I-CRAFT 2026 identified promising areas for international scientific cooperation, ranging from climate-resilient crops and water-saving technologies to the advanced processing of agricultural products. The proposed Almaty Research Agenda is intended to bring these priorities together through joint projects involving science and business, with the shared goal of strengthening food security and supporting the sustainable development of the agricultural sector.

For further information: Kuantar Daulenovich Alikhanov, Tel.: +7 775 943 03 05