Plants with Potential: Japanese and Kazakh Scientists Explore the Region’s Agrobiodiversity

The working program of the visit to the North Kazakhstan Region by Japanese scientists from the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) and Hirosaki University extended beyond meetings at Kozybayev University. The joint delegation traveled to districts of the North Kazakhstan Region and visited local farms.

Leading specialists in plant breeding and the conservation of plant biodiversity — Satoshi Oku, Sayako Kushino, and Katsunori Tanaka — familiarized themselves with the region’s agricultural production practices, studied local agroecological conditions, and collected samples of local vegetable varieties. Particular interest was focused on crops from the onion, gourd, cabbage, and zucchini families, which have potential for further genetic, breeding, and biological research. In addition to cultivated varieties, the expedition participants identified several promising wild plants.

A separate part of the working program was a visit to the Arkalyk farm in the village of Antonovka, Mamlyut District, North Kazakhstan Region. Such close cooperation with farms enables scientists not only to collect plant material but also to obtain valuable information about the origin of local varieties, their cultivation characteristics, and their adaptation to the natural and climatic conditions of Northern Kazakhstan. This knowledge is particularly important for preserving the region’s agrobiodiversity.

The collected samples will form the basis for further joint research by Kazakh and Japanese scientists. The work will focus on preserving valuable genetic resources, studying local and wild plants, and identifying promising material for the development of new crop varieties.