Adapting Global Technology Will Enable Kazakhstan to Produce Four Flax Generations Per Year

The Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture and Plant Growing, part of the National Agrarian Scientific and Educational Center, has launched a rapid oilseed flax breeding program using Speed Breeding technology. The introduction of this innovative approach aims to develop domestic varieties that are maximally adapted to local climatic conditions. According to Svetlana Didorenko, Head of the Oilseed Crops Laboratory, flax breeding work was traditionally conducted in the northern regions of the country; however, the soil and climatic specifics of southeastern Kazakhstan require fundamentally different solutions.

The relevance of the research is driven by flax’s status as a strategically important crop in global agriculture. Over the past decade, global flaxseed production has increased by more than 50 percent, reaching 3.7 million tons. Kazakhstan, which ranks among the world’s leading producers alongside Russia and Canada, continues to expand production volumes: in 2025 alone, the area sown with flax in the country increased by one third.

Within the framework of the scientific project, specialists from the Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture and Plant Growing, in partnership with scientists from the A. Baitursynuly Kostanay Regional University, are assessing the breeding value of parental forms and hybrid populations. A total of 27 varieties from the global collection have been selected for the study, representing genetic material from eight countries, including the United States, Canada, and European Union member states. Following hybridization under field conditions, further research is being conducted in greenhouse facilities using Speed Breeding technology.

The key advantage of the new methodology lies in the ability to control lighting, temperature, and humidity parameters, making it possible to obtain up to four plant generations within a single year. According to expert estimates, this shortens the breeding process by an average of 5–6 years compared to traditional methods. Accelerated breeding is expected to facilitate the faster development of high-yielding, drought-resistant varieties with high oil content, which is critically important amid climate change and growing demand for oilseed crops.