Technological innovations in the dairy industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan based on digital systems: current state and prospects

The development of a competitive dairy industry in the Republic of Kazakhstan is impossible without the introduction of technological innovations and digital solutions that enhance the efficiency of milk production and processing.

The objective – is to examine the current state of the dairy sector, assess the level of digital technology adoption, identify the key challenges, and develop directions for the sustainable operation of dairy farms.

Methods – statistical, comparative, and economic analyses were employed, enabling a comprehensive study of the activities of enterprises within the dairy sector. Correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between the degree of digitalization of business entities and production indicators (production costs and profitability), making it possible to substantiate the economic effectiveness of digital investments. The cost structure was examined to monitor the impact of technological factors on the production cost of milk and dairy products and to identify reserves for improving the profitability of dairy processing plants.

Results – the study demonstrated a steady increase in production volumes; however, the high share of small-scale agricultural enterprises continues to limit the large-scale adoption of digital technologies and the broader coverage of digital systems, despite the availability of government information services and certain elements of automation. It was established that digital tools contribute to a 20–30% increase in productivity, reduce production losses, and improve profitability.

Conclusions – the authors recommend the adoption of digital platforms for production management and milk traceability, the modernization of dairy farms and dairy processing enterprises, the expansion of cooperative activities, and the stimulation of investment in digital transformation. The implementation of these measures will improve productivity, reduce production costs, create conditions for import substitution of dairy products, and strengthen export competetiveness, thereby contributing to the maintenance of the republic’s food security. The development of innovative dairy food products will enhance the country's international standing and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation with the global economic community.

1. Ob utverzhdenii Kompleksnogo plana razvitija pererabotki sel'skohozjajstvennoj produkcii na 2024–2028 gody [On approval of the Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Agricultural Products Processing for 2024–2028] (2024). Available at: https://www.adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/P2400000512 (date of access: 12.03.2026) [in Russian].

2. Volter, K., Barker, R. & Larsen, M. (2021). Digital transformation in dairy supply chains: transparency, logistics and resource. Available at: https://www.journalofdairyscience.org/ (date of access: 12.03.2026) [in English].

3. Brain, D., Schmidt, A. & Hansen, L. (2020). Automation technologies in dairy farming and milk processing enterprises. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/computers-and-electronics-in-agriculture (date of access: 12.03.2026) [in English].

4. Uspanbaeva, M., Zejnalgabdin, A. & Turebekova, B. (2022). Cifrovizacija i povyshenie jeffektivnosti molochnoj otrasli Kazahstana [Digitalization and improvement of the efficiency of the dairy industry of Kazakhstan]. Available at: https://www.kazatu.edu.kz/ru/nauka/vestnik (date of access: 12.03.2026) [in Russian].

5. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA FAS) (2024). Kazakhstan Dairy and Products Annual Report. Available at: https://www.fas.usda.gov/data/kazakhstan-dairy-and-productsannual (date of access: 12.03.2026) [in English].

6. Ajmurzina, B.T., Kamenova, M.Zh., Kazybaev, B.O. & Abildahanova, S.R. (2023). Mehanizm obespechenija kachestva jekonomicheskogo rosta sel'skogo hozjajstva v Kazahstane [Mechanism for ensuring the quality of economic growth of agriculture in Kazakhstan]. Vestnik Kazahskogo universiteta jekonomiki, finansov i mezhdunarodnoj torgovli - Bulletin of the Kazakh University of Economics, Finance and International Trade, 1(50), 39–45 [in Russian].

7. USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) (2023). Digital transformation and agribusiness platforms in Kazakhstan. Available at: https://www.fas.usda.gov/ (date of access: 12.03.2026) [in English].

8. Dzhazykbaev, B., Kernebaev, A. & Mombekova, G. Gosudarstvennaja podderzhka innovacij v agropromyshlennom komplekse Kazahstana [State support for innovation in the agro-industrial complex of Kazakhstan]. Available at: https://www.agrarian.kz/ (date of access: 12.03.2026) [in Russian].

9. Ajdarova, A., Maulenkulova, G. & Daurbaeva, A. (2023). Cifrovye tehnologii v upravlenii molochnym proizvodstvom i sbytom produkcii [Digital technologies in the management of dairy production and product sales]. Available at: https://www.kazatu.edu.kz/ (date of access: 12.03.2026) [in Russian].

10. Luk'janova, M., Kovshov, V. & Zalilova, Z. (2021). Innovacionnaja model' razvitija molochnoj otrasli i jelektronnaja kommercija [Innovative model for the development of the dairy industry and e-commerce]. APK: jekonomika, upravlenie - Agro-industrial complex: economics, management. Available at: https://www.elibrary.ru/ (date of access: 12.03.2026) [in Russian].

11. Garcia-Garcia, G., Azapagic, A. & Rahimifard, S. (2020). Resource efficiency and sustainability in food manufacturing through digital technologies. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/resources-conservation-and-recycling (date of access: 12.03.2026) [in English].

12. Shafique, K., Khawaja, B. & Sab, F. (2021). Digital monitoring systems and analytical models for industrial efficiency assessment. Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sensors (date of access: 12.03.2026) [in English].

13. United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) (2022). Industrial benchmarking and digital transformation for competetiveness. Available at: https://www.unido.org/ (date of access: 12.03.2026) [in English].

14. Statisticheskij bjulleten' «Osnovnye pokazateli razvitija zhivotnovodstva Respubliki Kazahstan»; Statisticheskij sbornik «Sel'skoe, lesnoe i rybnoe hozjajstvo Respubliki Kazahstan 2021–2024 gg.» [Statistical bulletin “Main indicators of livestock development in the Re-public of Kazakhstan”; Statistical collection “Agri-culture, forestry and fisheries of the Republic of Kazakhstan 2021–2024”] (2021–2025). Available at: https://www.stat.gov.kz/ru/industries/businessstatistics/stat-forrest-village-hunt-fish/ (date of access: 12.03.2026) [in Russian].

15. Statisticheskij bjulleten' «Vneshnjaja i vzaimnaja torgovlja Respubliki Kazahstan»; Statisticheskij sbornik «Potreblenie osnovnyh prodovol'stvennyh tovarov v Respublike Kazahstan» [Statistical bulletin “Foreign and mutual trade of the Republic of Kazakhstan”; Statistical collection “Consumption of basic food products in the Republic of Kazakhstan”] (2024–2025). Available at: https://www.stat.gov.kz (date of access: 12.03.2026) [in Russian].

16. Statisticheskij bjulleten' «Osnovnye pokazateli razvitija zhivotnovodstva Respubliki Kazahstan»; Statisticheskij sbornik «Sel'skoe, lesnoe i rybnoe hozjajstvo Respubliki Kazahstan 2021–2024 gg.» [Statistical bulletin “Main indicators of livestock development in the Republic of Kazakhstan”; Statistical collection “Agriculture, forestry and fisheries of the Republic of Kazakhstan 2021–2024”] (2021–2025). Available at: https://www.stat.gov.kz/ru/industries/businessstatistics/stat-forrest-village-hunt-fish/ (date of access: 12.03.2026) [in Russian].

17. Global'nye jekonomicheskie perspektivy [Global Economic Prospects] (2023). Available at: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/6e892b75-2594-4901-a03646d0dec1e753/content (date of access: 12.03. 2026) [in Russian].