Exchange infrastructure for supporting investments in agritechnologies

The study aimed to substantiate the practical effectiveness of a digital exchange infrastructure as a tool for stimulating investments in agritechnologies that promoted the sustainable development of Kazakhstan’s agricultural sector. A simulation model of the AgriInvestExchange platform was developed, designed for venture financing of agricultural start-ups and for optimising the allocation of investment capital, taking into account the specific characteristics of agricultural production. For the platform’s pilot testing, three prototype start-ups were modelled: AgroSense (digital agromonitoring), BioCrop Innovations (biotechnologies based on soil microorganisms), and BlockAgro (blockchain logistics and smart contracts). The start-ups differed in investment volumes (USD 0.85-1.8 million), time to market (12-24 months), projected internal rate of return (23%-28%), and project risk levels. Scenario-based financial modelling in three variants (baseline, optimistic, and pessimistic) was conducted to determine the profitability range, taking into account climatic risks, market volatility, and potential delays in market entry. The calculated simple return indicators ranged from 55.13% to 61.96%, while the internal rate of return reached up to 35% under the optimistic scenario. Net present value calculations indicated that, even under moderate assumptions, all start-ups maintained a positive net present value, confirming their investment viability. In addition, agro-production effects were analysed, including a projected increase in crop yields (up to +18%), a reduction in fertiliser costs (up to -21%), and a decrease in logistics losses (up to -12%). These findings substantiated the direct impact of investments on the productivity and sustainability of agriculture. The results demonstrated the high practical relevance of the developed stock exchange platform as a tool for financing agri-innovations, shaping sustainable investment strategies, and accelerating the adoption of technological solutions that enhanced the efficiency and stability of agricultural production in the face of climatic and market challenges