TAGRA 2025

Ensuring food and nutrition security remains a major challenge in Kyrgyzstan, where 40% of the population cannot afford adequate nutrition, 70% of children under five lack minimally diverse diets, and 47% suffer from micronutrient deficiencies, especially iron. Meanwhile, non-communicable diseases account for up to 80% of deaths (WHO, 2019), highlighting the urgent need for healthier dietary options. Sustainable agri-food supply chains, focused on value-added processing rather than export of raw materials, represent a key pathway to improving national nutrition and economic resilience. This research presents advances in product innovation and processing technologies for agroforestry food products with the goal of expanding the range of functional, nutrient-dense foods. Comprehensive analyses were conducted on nutrient composition and bioactive components of dried apricots and kernels, as well as freeze-dried strawberries, blackberries, and apricots. The influence of blanching on macronutrients, total polyphenol content, antioxidant capacity, and microbiological stability of dried plums was also evaluated. New functional foods derived from local forest fruits were developed, including nine types of fruit balls, two formulations of fruit marshmallows, four “Baltalkan” cereal–honey bars, and three “Balmaizhemish” fruit spreads. Technological instructions were prepared for production, two patent applications submitted, and one patent already granted. In addition, improved drying technologies were introduced by substituting sulfur dioxide with organic acids during apricot pre-treatment to enhance product safety, preserve color and texture, and reduce microbiological risks. Overall, the outcomes demonstrate significant potential to strengthen sustainable value chains, enhance the quality and safety of dried fruit products, and contribute to improved nutritional health through increased availability of functional foods in Kyrgyzstan.