On April 22, the Director of the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre Alexey Ivanov spoke in the session “Integrated action on climate change, land restoration and biodiversity conservation for food security and sustainability (Strengthening synergies among the Rio Conventions)” at the Regional Ecological Summit 2026 in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Alexey Ivanov presented a critical perspective on current approaches to sustainable development and food security. In his speech, he emphasized that despite a high level of international cooperation on these issues, there is still a lack of full integration of business, market instruments, and economic incentives, without which systemic change is impossible.
Ivanov noted that global food systems are heavily dependent on international markets, with countries simultaneously both importing and exporting food through them. He pointed to Brazil and the so-called “Cerrado Miracle,” where significant economic growth was driven by the country’s integration into global markets, but also came with notable environmental and social costs.
“How can we address these consequences without taking into account the functioning of global markets? I would therefore argue that, as part of this important discussion on aligning the goals and priorities of key environmental agendas, we must bring the market dimension into the equation,”
Ivanov said.
In the photo: Alexey Ivanov © RES 2026
In this context, he noted that carbon farming represents one of the industrial models that can contribute to forming an interconnected set of economic and environmental objectives. The report “Carbon Farming in Kazakhstan: Unlocking the Opportunity,” prepared by the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre jointly with the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), examines a wide range of positive effects of implementing carbon farming methods in semi-arid and arid regions, using Kazakhstan as an example.
In particular, the report analyzes the possibilities of transforming even such a complex area as the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site into a potential space for transformation and ecological restoration. However, according to Ivanov, a purely technical or scientific approach is insufficient.
“Large-scale environmental projects require the active involvement of markets and the business sector, as well as a clear understanding of how global value chains in food and related sectors are structured. In other words, it is not only about the physical transformation of a territory, but also about its integration into broader economic and investment processes.”
It is necessary to understand where and how incentives for investment in sustainable production are formed, why consumers should choose more environmentally responsible products, and what economic conditions can encourage local communities to participate in such development models, Alexey emphasized.
In conclusion, Ivanov reiterated the need for a more comprehensive approach to the development of global food systems. In his view, the key lies in aligning environmental initiatives with market mechanisms, ensuring the meaningful involvement of the business sector, and making greater use of competition policy tools. He argued that such integration would help create sustainable incentives for producers, consumers, and governments alike, despite the complexity of the challenges facing the world.
The session was also attended by the Vice Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nurken Sharbiev, the Vice Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Mongolia Batbayar Munkhtamir, the Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security Berik Aryn, the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity Astrid Schomaker, the Regional Coordinator of the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) for relations with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia Nadezhda Dementyeva, and others.
The Regional Ecological Summit 2026 (RES 2026) was initiated by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, during the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2023. At the Astana International Forum in May 2025, it was announced that the Summit’s agenda would be expanded from a climate-focused framework to a broader environmental scope. The aim of the Summit is to develop agreed workable solutions and mechanisms that reflect a regional approach to addressing climate and environmental challenges, preventing risks and strengthening resilience.
