2024, November 27
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Experts Discuss Kazakhstan's Transition to Regenerative Agriculture
2024, November 27
Share this articleOn November 18, a screening of the film Six Inches of Soil took place at NU, organized by the Office of Sustainable Development with support from the British Embassy, FAO, and the UN SDSN based at the university.
The film, in English with Russian subtitles, tells the story of three British farmers who decided to take a bold step towards regenerative farming.
The event was opened by the British Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Ms. Kathy Leach, who highlighted the critical importance of transitioning to regenerative agriculture. She explained that traditional farming methods, particularly industrial agriculture, cause irreparable damage to soils. According to Ambassador Leach, one-third of the world’s land has already degraded, and between 25 to 40 billion tons of topsoil – essential for sustainable agriculture – are lost every year.
«Farming is responsible for one-third of all global CO2 and methane emissions, making it one of the key drivers of climate change. This is especially relevant for Kazakhstan, where the effects of climate change are already becoming more noticeable. Projections show that by the end of the century, temperatures in Central Asia could rise by more than five degrees if timely measures are not taken», noted the Ambassador.
Following the 90-minute film, a panel discussion was held with leading experts in the fields of agriculture and sustainable development. Panelists included Janyl Boztaeva, Program Officer for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Kazakhstan, Adilbek Nogaev, Associate Professor at the S. Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical University, and Stavros Poulopoulos, Head of the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering at NU.
Attendees also had the opportunity to ask questions and participate in discussions about climate change and the role of agriculture in these processes.
A week later, on November 25, the event continued with a session for students to engage further on the topic. Outstanding young participants were invited to an afternoon tea with the British Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Ms. Kathy Leach, scheduled for November 29.
