ASTANA: Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has presented Almaty Aport apples to DG of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations Qu Dongyu in the Italian capital city, the Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture said.
Almaty Aport, an apple variety, takes part in the Global Action on One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative to preserve precious products across the world. The FAO’s step considers the product with unique qualities linked to geographical specificities, and cultural heritage.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said that his country is widely known as the birthplace of apples and aport apples grow near Almaty. He said that Almaty is a home of Aport, is translated from Kazakhstan as ‘a place of abundance of apples.’
International Recognition of Apple
The President expressed hope for the FAO’s support in promoting the apple to the world markets. The program launched in September 2021, facilitates inclusive, profitable and environmentally sustainable food mechanism through the green development of high-value agricultural products.
In 1970, Kazakhstan had around 3.8 million Aport trees, and in 1984, the number declined to 1.4 million, the ministry said. Nevertheless, scientists have been working on the revival of the apple since 2012 and shared their first impressive outcome last year.
As per local media reports, over the last 20 years, Kazakh scientists and researchers have been engaged in the revival of Aport apple using modern technologies and experimental gardens. The researchers have collected around 115 clones and developed 29 cultivars based on Almaty Aport.
Almaty Aport was formally registered in the State Register of Geographic Indications in October 2023. For this objective, the Almaty Region Apple Growers Association applied to the National Institute of Intellectual Property. In order to gain international acknowledgment, apple producers should also identify the nations where they seek legal protection for Almaty Aport. As a result, respective materials were sent to Poland, Spain, France, and Russia.
Around 90 days ago, Kazakh Minister of Justice Azamat Yeskarayev confirmed that Almaty Aport is now recognized as brand of Kazakhstan. The environment of Almaty gave the most suitable and good conditions for the seedlings to grow the apple.
