Under the framework of IOFS–ICARDA partnership, the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) held a series of joint meetings with Kazakhstan’s leading agricultural and research institutions from 23 to 26 September 2025. The ICARDA delegation was represented by Dr. Zakaria Kehel, Research Team Leader for Genetic Resources and Country Coordinator for Morocco, and Dr. Akmal Akramkhanov, Senior Scientist for Sustainable Land Management and Country Coordinator for Uzbekistan, while IOFS was represented by Mr. Bakytzhan Arystanbek, Project Manager and Ms. Makpal Bulatova, Project Manager.
The program included visits to the Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture and Plant Growing (KazNIIZiR), the Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology (IPBB), Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, the Barayev Research and Production Centre for Grain Farming, and the National Center for Biotechnology (NCB). The meetings provided an opportunity to cooperate with the Kazakh institutions, present ICARDA’s experience, and exchange views on potential areas for joint cooperation.
During the meetings, Dr. Kehel underlined ICARDA’s renewed commitment to strengthening cooperation with national genebanks and research institutions across the CWANA region. He noted that, following the re-establishment of ICARDA’s genebanks in Morocco and Lebanon after the loss of its facilities in Aleppo, the organization is now eager to deepen engagement with Kazakhstan and the wider region in areas such as genetic resource conservation, plant breeding, training, and joint fundraising initiatives.
The ICARDA delegation was also welcomed by H.E. Director General Ambassador Berik Aryn, at the IOFS Headquarters in Astana, where both sides discussed ways to advance IOFS–ICARDA cooperation, particularly in the framework of the IOFS International Genebank initiative. ICARDA confirmed its readiness to provide technical expertise and backstopping support, including conducting baseline assessments of national institutions to define their specific niches and strengthen their contribution to the global system. The discussions further explored opportunities for collaboration in research, capacity building, and regional projects.
IOFS and ICARDA reaffirmed their joint commitment to continue close coordination with Kazakh institutions and to expand cooperation more broadly across Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the wider CWANA region.
