- The Bulat Utemuratov Foundation has teamed up with the prestigious instiutions of UC Berkeley, IFAS, and Korkyt Ata University to trial a new ‘E-seed’ technology on the dried Aral seabed.
The Aral seabed will be the site of an ambitious new ecological project – which shall also feature input from the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation – as researchers aim to restore one of the planet’s worst-affected environmental areas.
The four parties involved in the project include Berkeley University from California, the Executive Directorate of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) in Kazakhstan, and a team hailing from the country’s own Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University. A memorandum has now been signed-off, meaning that the hard work can start imminently.
Photo credit: Bulat Utemuratov Foundation
Issues with the Aral Sea
Just 10% of the Aral Sea’s original surface area remains. This gradual erosion has caused significant environmental issues, as the huge salt marshes uncovered by the drying planes release toxic materials into the air. These particles are then spread for thousands of miles, and have even been discovered as far north as the Arctic. The dust also pollutes soil and water, raising major concerns about the standards of food production and the general health of those breathing in contaminated air.
The Foundation’s pilot project aims to support long-term restoration of the Aral seabed ecosystem through field testing of UC Berkeley’s innovative E-seed technology. The method uses drones to distribute self-burying seeds in biodegradable material, enabling rapid and large-scale planting with higher seed survival rates and minimal labor costs.
Bulat Utemuratov Foundation backs ‘futuristic’ restoration plan
Through the deployment of pioneering ‘E-seed technology’, self-burying seeds will be dropped by drones across the Aral seabed. Cocooned by a biodegradable shell, the move promises smaller labor requirements, and a better chance of the seeds reaching a full growth cycle. UC Berkeley are behind the technology, and the Foundation is aiming to restore the troubled ecosystem in the years ahead.
“The Aral Sea is one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. We are launching a project to help limit salt and toxic dust, reduce health risks, and advance sustainable restoration of the Aral seabed. This technology can be applied in different environments, potentially supporting the restoration of degraded land and reforestation in areas affected by desertification or wildfires,” said Ainur Karbozova, CEO of the Bulat Utemuratov Foundation.
The project supports Kazakhstan’s chairmanship of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) for 2024-2026 under President Tokayev, which prioritizes extending green spaces across more than one million hectares of the dried seabed.
A test planting on a one-hectare site will begin in Spring 2026. If survival rates exceed 20%, the second phase in 2027 will expand planting across 50 hectares of the dried seabed. By 2040, it aims to stabilize the ecosystem and improve the microclimate. The pilot project cost is estimated at USD 600,000.
