Kazakh scientists will share their experiences with Korean colleagues on horse breeding. The chiefs of large Kazakhstan’s research institutes agreed on this during their visit to Seoul. With this aim, the South Korean Konkuk University and the Kazakh National Agrarian University will open a joint department in Kazakhstan.

SOO-KI KIM, PROFESSOR, KONKUK UNIVERSITY:

On the Korean island of Jeju there are about 25,000 horses. We need new technologies. Therefore, we are interested in Kazakhstan’s experience, which has succeeded in breeding horses.

AYUP ISKAKOV, DIRECTOR, NORTH-KAZAKHSTAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF LIVESTOCK AND CROP PRODUCTION:

Konkuk University’s scientists are planning to visit Kazakhstan and to work jointly on horse breeding. The horse oil is used in production of various cosmetic products. You know that medical tourism and the cosmetics production are well developed in Korea.

The two countries also intend to share the genepool of plants. Korea has formed a robotic gene bank. It includes 150,000 samples of all cultures. For example, Kazakhstan is going to grow soy, which is in short supply in Korea and at the same time increase the planted area from 100,000 to 400,000 hectares.

SERIK KENENBAYEV, DIRECTOR, KAZAKH RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE AND PLANT GROWING:

We can cultivate different plants in all regions. Of course, early-maturing varieties, which produce corns during the growing season, can be cultivated. In this regard, we are interested in early maturing varieties.

Another area of cooperation involves the staff training. A graduate student from Kazakhstan studies local soybean varieties in one of the Korean universities. The student intends to share her experience in Kazakhstan in cooperation with her Korean colleagues and create a new Kazakh-Korean variety.