Kazakhstan and FAO join forces in the fight against locusts with AI

As part of a strategic partnership, a meeting was held between representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The central topic of discussion was the development of an innovative geoinformation system based on artificial intelligence technologies to monitor and predict the spread of locust pests.

The expected system is set to become a key tool in countering a threat capable of causing significant damage to the country's agricultural land. Both parties emphasized the importance of integrating digital solutions into the processes of monitoring, risk assessment, and rapid response.
It should be recalled that in February of this year, it was announced that 7 billion tenge had been allocated from the national budget to fight locusts.

This was reported by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin. According to the Vice Premier, the area affected by locusts in 2025 is expected to decrease to 2 million hectares. He expressed confidence that this year could mark the end of the active reproduction cycle of the pest. Thanks to accumulated experience and large-scale preparations, the authorities expect to effectively localize outbreaks and enter a "cycle of silence" in the future.

Last year, a locust invasion caused considerable damage to several regions, with Aktobe, Kostanay, and Turkistan oblasts suffering the most. In 2025, the number of machinery involved in field treatment operations has been doubled to prevent a repeat of the previous year's consequences.

🔑 Key takeaways:
🔹 An AI-powered monitoring and prediction system is being developed jointly with FAO.
🔹 Authorities believe 2025 could mark the end of the pest’s active cycle.
🔹 Machinery capacity has been doubled to prevent large-scale damage.