Development of the Organic Market to Ensure Food Security in Kazakhstan

Abstract

Safety and quality of food products is one of the directions of food security in the Republic of Kazakhstan. However, Kazakhstan's potential in organic production is not fully realized. Certified fields meeting European standards and processed using organic production technologies cover an area of 200,000 hectares. According to the FiBL and IFOAM rankings, out of 123 countries, Kazakhstan ranks 9th in organic product exports, 4th among organic wheat exporting countries, and 6th in organic flaxseed exports. Kazakhstan's organic product exports amounted to 35 million US dollars in 2022. Therefore, further development of the organic market in the country will enable the production of products that interact with nature, preserving its biodiversity, and ecological sustainability, and increasing its share in exports.

Despite establishing a state management system for organic farming in the Republic of Kazakhstan, a significant problem remains the mechanisms of state support for the competitiveness of enterprises applying organic production and circulation technologies.

Traditional agriculture has significant competitive advantages. For example, over 600 types of chemical fertilizers are subsidized, whereas organic fertilizers have no subsidy options. Therefore, new approaches are needed to shape the organic market to strengthen the country's food security. The purpose of this article is to study international experience in managing the food market and create recommendations for the development of the organic market in the context of ensuring food security in Kazakhstan.