Agricultural waste is a valuable resource: a new center at Shakarim University

At Shakarim University, the scientific-practical center "Valorization of the products of the agricultural complex" aimed at obtaining high-value products and using them in food production by deep processing of agricultural products and industrial waste has started its work.

In the new center, a pre-processing room, a physico-chemical processing laboratory, a department for analyzing physico-chemical parameters, a hydrogen application laboratory, and a bacteriological laboratory were fully equipped and put into operation.

The opening ceremony of the center was attended by the university management and teaching staff. Duman Orynbekov, Rector of Shakarim University, who made the first speech at the ceremony, noted the importance of the new scientific and experimental center for the field of agro-industry, and expressed his gratitude to Kairat Bekbayev, the professor of science of the university, who is implementing a large-scale project, and the head of scientific and technical programs and projects funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In turn, Kairat Bekbaev gave a detailed report on the work being done at the center and future scientific plans. According to him, as a higher educational institution, training of qualified specialists and scientific personnel is one of the main directions of the center's activities. Currently, 13 PhD doctoral students are conducting their dissertation work within the framework of the center. In addition, 6 graduate students completed their studies this year, and 5 more graduate students are planning to defend their theses this academic year.

Today, sugar production is rapidly developing in the country. The state plans to increase the sugar beet fields every year. There are six operating sugar factories in Kazakhstan, which in turn means that sugar beet waste is collected in large quantities. According to scientists, these wastes are a source of ready raw materials that do not need to be collected.

Besides, as an agrarian country, the country has a lot of agricultural crop residues. In particular, scientific developments obtained from rapeseed, flax, and karabidai straw are showing real results today. Scientific articles in this direction have also started to be published.

The main priority of the center is obtaining bioproducts from plant organic waste, including production of biohydrogen. This direction is currently considered one of the main trends in world science. The only scientific center in Kazakhstan that works systematically in this field is this center at Shakarim University. Here, the technology of producing biohydrogen from agricultural waste is studied and put into practice.

Besides, research is being conducted in the center to obtain products such as biohydrogen, biomethane, bioethanol, biobutanol, and biomass. Scientists intend to recycle agricultural waste and re-introduce it to agriculture as fertilizer. This is an effective model based on the principles of sustainable development and closed economy.

"We obtain bioproducts, in particular, our main advantage is obtaining biohydrogen. It is said to be a trend in science in the world at the moment. We are the only ones working in this direction in Kazakhstan, researching and implementing the technology of biohydrogen production from waste in the center. In short, we are working in the direction of reprocessing agricultural waste and offering it as a fertilizer for agriculture. In other words, it is sustainable development, working with the principle of closed economy"- says K. Bekbaev.

According to the scientist, the center works as an interdisciplinary research platform covering the areas of ecology, biotechnology and bioenergy.

The new scientific and experimental center will allow the development of scientific developments for the deep processing of waste in the field of agro-industry, the creation of globally competitive scientific technologies and the increase of the economic potential of the regions.

During the solemn ceremony, video congratulations of international colleagues were shown. In particular, the partner higher educational institutions of Shakarim University - Professor Duried Alwazeer of Igdir University in Turkey and Professor Karen Trchounian of Yerevan State University made a congratulatory speech and noted that joint research projects are successfully implemented within the framework of international cooperation.

The opening of a new scientific and experimental center is an important step aimed at the sustainable development of the agro-industrial complex, increasing the regional scientific potential and strengthening the connection between science and production.