Baku hosts signing of landmark deal to boost innovative farming with basalt powder PHOTO

A memorandum of cooperation has been signed in Baku between the Caspian Agricultural Research Centre (CARCAS) and AZERBAZALT Scientific and Production Association LLC to foster collaboration in agricultural technology and sustainable farming.

According to domestic media reports, the agreement focuses on advancing scientific and practical cooperation, particularly in the application of innovative mineral components, including basalt powder, in the agro-industrial sector of the region.

The partnership outlines joint research initiatives, pilot projects, and field trials using basalt powder to enhance soil structure, boost crop yields, and improve the resilience of agricultural crops against environmental stresses.

“CARCAS, as a leading research centre in the Caspian region, sees great prospects in integrating new solutions into agricultural practices in Azerbaijan and neighbouring countries, including the use of natural mineral components to improve food security,” said Rifat Sultan-zade, Chairman of the CARCAS Supervisory Board.

During the same event, AZERBAZALT and AZCHEMCO signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a strategic partnership in the supply of basalt powder. The collaboration aims to provide AZERBAZALT products for AZCHEMCO’s Black Terra substrate line and promote their export to foreign markets such as Turkmenistan and member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) — Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

“We plan to produce 360,000 tons of organic fertilisers per year. The enterprise will operate using advanced Azerbaijani technologies, with high-quality basalt sourced from the Chaykend deposit in the Goygol district serving as the main raw material,” said Rafat Aliyev, founder and CEO of AZERBAZALT.

The initiatives of AZERBAZALT and AZCHEMCO align with the key goals of the COP28 and COP29 international climate agendas, which emphasise reducing the carbon footprint and promoting the sustainable use of natural resources.

Utilising basalt powder and related fertilisers in agriculture helps lower greenhouse gas emissions by improving soil fertility and reducing reliance on chemical fertilisers, thereby supporting global efforts to combat climate change.

By Tamilla Hasanova