This year, the scientific-technological session of the Agrohackathon, held under the theme “Scientific and Technological Development of Agro-Industrial Enterprises and Regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan”, took place in Kokshetau with the support of Sh. Ualikhanov Kokshetau State University. The session brought together 72 researchers and 17 industrial enterprises, which presented nine technical prototypes prepared for evaluation.

Toraighyrov University was represented at the Agrohackathon by: Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, Associate Professor Zhastlеk Uakhitov; Director of the Research Institute “Agroinnovations and Biotechnology,” Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, Associate Professor Kairolla Akhazhanov; Professor of the Department of Zootechnology and Veterinary Medicine, PhD Talgat Seiteuov; PhD, Associate Professor Zhanat Titanov; and Associate Professor of the Department of Agrotechnology, Candidate of Biological Sciences Viktor Kamkin.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sayasat Nurbek, Chairman of the Board - Rector of Ualikhanov University Marat Syrlubaev, and Deputy Akim of Akmola Region Murat Balpan.

In his speech, the Minister emphasized the importance of strengthening the applied orientation of modern science: “It is extremely important to hold such sessions that bring together the real sector and science, uniting business representatives, production companies, and local executive authorities on a single platform,” he stated.

Following two days of work, more than ten priority R&D tasks were identified for agro-industrial enterprises, and nine initial technical prototypes were developed. Projects with high potential for subsequent commercialization were also selected.

The Toraighyrov University team presented a number of relevant and practically valuable projects for domestic businesses, including: 
– “Improving the efficiency of cattle fattening based on the enterprise’s feed resources”;
– “Developing a feeding system that accounts for animals’ natural resistance to heat stress to increase productivity”;
– “Carbon forest-shelterbelt systems.”

The competition commission, composed of potential investors, unanimously recognized the project “Carbon Forest-Shelterbelt Systems”, presented by Associate Professor and Candidate of Biological Sciences Viktor Kamkin of Toraighyrov University, as the most detailed and effective for practical implementation.

Designed for 250,000 hectares of agricultural land, the project has the potential, with an initial investment of €10.015 million, to increase productivity by 15% and generate annual revenue of €11.904 million. The main sources of this revenue include increased yields, reduced water and wind erosion, and carbon credit payments.

The Agrohackathon proved to be an effective platform for strengthening cooperation between science and production, which is essential factor in ensuring sustainable regional development and enhancing the technological competitiveness of Kazakhstan’s agricultural sector. This event can be considered an important step by the Committee toward developing regional science and improving the quality of projects through enhanced business expertise.