Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin met with the management of Canadian company TELUS Agriculture. The parties discussed the digitalization of Kazakhstan's agro-industrial complex, the introduction of AI to increase crop yields, and the joint development of a Roadmap for the digital transformation of the sector. TELUS Agriculture presented a digital ecosystem covering crop production, livestock farming, and consumer goods. The company's software and AI-based solutions are applied on 101 million hectares of arable land in 60 countries.
Four to five regional sites have been identified for the implementation of digital solutions. These include the Kamystybass (Kaibatar) enterprise with a pilot project for 50,000 head of cattle, as well as a project in the Karaganda region. A partner is planned to be selected in East Kazakhstan. Canadian investors noted the similarity of climatic conditions between the Akmola region and the province of Alberta.
TELUS Agriculture is ready to launch a pilot in the Akmola region for the introduction of AI and software to control soil fertility, plant protection, and precise crop selection. According to the company, the implementation of a similar system at a feedlot in Nebraska with 200,000 head of cattle allowed for an increase in average daily weight gain to 60 g per kg of feed (a 70% increase), reducing feedlot areas and grain usage volumes. The parties agreed on a detailed elaboration of the pilot project in the Akmola region jointly with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The National Agrarian Scientific and Educational Center (NASEC) of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan has been designated as the scientific and analytical base.
If successful, the experience will be scaled to other regions.