Multilateralism Matters: UNDP Supports Climate-Adaptive Agriculture in Aral Sea Region

September 19, 2025
Person in a black shirt and white cap bends through a golden wheat field under a clear blue sky.
Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan

Nukus, Karakalpakstan — September 15-16, 2025. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) organized a two-day event in Nukus, bringing together leading scientists and practitioners from Uzbekistan and Russia to exchange expertise in climate-adaptive agriculture. The initiative aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation and enhance agricultural resilience in the face of increasing water scarcity.

The event attracted representatives from key scientific institutions across both countries. These included the Karakalpak Scientific Production Association of Grain and Rice, the Agricultural Research Institute of Karakalpakstan, the Rice Research Institute of Uzbekistan, the Plant Genetic Resources Research Institute of Uzbekistan, and the "Donskoy" Agricultural Scientific Center. Russian participation featured experts from the All-Russian Research Institute of Oil Crops (VNIIMK), the Federal Scientific Center of Agroecology, the Caspian Agrarian Federal Scientific Center, and Lomonosov Moscow State University. Government representatives from the Jokargy Kenes (Parliament of Karakalpakstan), the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Academy of Sciences also joined the discussions.

People seated around a conference table in a meeting room, using laptops and papers.
People seated around a conference table in a meeting room, using laptops and papers.

Participants explored Russia's advanced agricultural technologies and discussed prospects for implementing drought-resistant and resource-efficient crop varieties in Karakalpakstan's challenging environment. The event focused on comprehensive strategies for addressing arid farming challenges through innovative agricultural technologies. Participants paid particular attention to low-water-consuming rice varieties that can thrive in the Aral Sea region's harsh environment. Russian specialists shared their agrobiological assessments of crop varieties and their adaptability to diverse climatic scenarios. They also presented valuable insights from growing upland rice in Russia's Rostov region under water-limited scenarios—experience that directly applies to Karakalpakstan's agricultural challenges.

Scientists also showcased innovative solutions, including gel-forming soil conditioners developed at Lomonosov Moscow State University. The discussions emphasized how modern breeding, seed production, and agricultural techniques form an integrated adaptive farming system designed to withstand climate change impacts.

"Karakalpakstan faces some of the most severe climate challenges on the planet, with shrinking water resources and soil salinization creating unprecedented difficulties for farmers," said Dusenbay Utambetov, Director of the Scientific Production Association of Grain and Rice. "However, these challenges also create opportunities for innovation and adopting global best practices. Our collaboration with Russian scientific centers will help us adapt advanced breeding technologies to local realities and develop sustainable solutions that benefit not just our republic, but the entire region."

This collaboration comes at a critical time. Located in the lower reaches of the Amu Darya River, Karakalpakstan exemplifies the climate pressures facing arid regions worldwide. Soil salinization affects 95% of the region's farmland, while severe water shortages demand a complete transformation of traditional farming methods.

Group of people in a crop field on a sunny day, standing beside yellow signs.
Photograph of solar panels along a dirt path with three people in a sunny field.
People standing and talking outdoors near a curved metal lattice canopy; blue sky above.

Introducing drought-resistant crops represents a key adaptation strategy. UNDP is already implementing this approach through its project "Enhancing the resilience of local population and promoting green, inclusive development of the most vulnerable communities in the Aral Sea region," funded by the Government of the Russian Federation. The project includes practical trials of upland rice varieties that show remarkable water-saving potential. The results are impressive: while traditional rice farming requires 30,000 to 40,000 cubic meters of water per hectare, upland rice needs only about 10,000 cubic meters—a 60% reduction in water consumption. During the field seminar, participants visited demonstration plots where these experimental crops are currently flowering and showing promising adaptation to local environmental stresses.

The event yielded concrete outcomes, with formal agreements reached between the Karakalpak institutions and Russia's "Donskoy" Agricultural Scientific Center for ongoing scientific collaboration. The partners will formalize these commitments through detailed cooperation agreements.

These partnerships extend beyond regional impact to global significance. The collaboration supports Paris Agreement objectives by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from rice production, optimizing soil carbon cycles, and developing climate-resilient crop varieties for arid regions worldwide. This multilateralism approach creates a sustainable framework for knowledge exchange and establishes a robust platform for long-term climate-adapted agricultural development across the region.