The Institute of Smart Systems and AI (ISSAI) at Nazarbayev University successfully participated in the 1st International Conference on Intelligent Nutrition and Food Systems for Precision Health (NutrIX 2026), held from September 17 to 19 in Astana. The landmark event brought together data scientists, healthcare practitioners, policymakers, and international researchers to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, digital technologies, nutrition, and population health.
The conference was spearheaded by Conference Chair Professor Mei Yen Chan from the NU School of Medicine. The event took place at the Onergy Creative Hub, located in the Pyramids. The iconic facility provided an inspiring backdrop for the three-day conference, seamlessly bringing together art, science, cuisine, and innovation under one roof.
During the scientific sessions, Conference Co-Chair Professor Huseyin Atakan Varol presented the latest collaborative research conducted by ISSAI and Professor Chan’s Central Asia Food Innovation Laboratory (CAFI). In his lecture, titled “Artificial Intelligence for Food Computing,” Professor Varol highlighted the development of region-specific, open-source datasets, including CAFD, CAFSD, and FPB, as well as a comprehensive Digital Visual Food Atlas. Furthermore, he demonstrated the capabilities of ISSAI’s proprietary vision-language models, Qolda and Qolda-AVL, noting their potential to serve as next-generation AI models for real-time portion estimation and multilingual dietary advice directly on consumer devices.
NutrIX 2026 featured a prestigious lineup of dignitaries and global experts. The opening ceremony included welcome addresses from Professor Waqar Ahmad, President of Nazarbayev University; Professor Rehan Sadiq, Provost of Nazarbayev University; and Professor Huck-Hui Ng, Vice President and Dean of the School of Medicine. The scientific dialogue was profoundly enriched by world-renowned keynote speakers, including Professor Martin Kohlmeier, Professor Christopher J.L. Murray, Professor Mohsen Naghavi, Professor Giuseppe Grosso, and Professor Chim Lang, who shared their insights on the future of precision nutrition and global health metrics.
ISSAI and the conference organizing committee extend their deepest gratitude to the NU Impact Foundation, led by Chairman Sayat Nyussupov, for their vital support in making this international gathering a reality.
Equally important to the success of NutrIX 2026 were the students and researchers of ISSAI and the CAFI Lab. We wish to express our profound appreciation for their tremendous contributions to the organization and execution of the conference. Their dedication, professionalism, and hard work behind the scenes ensured a flawless experience for all attendees.
Through collaborative efforts and a steadfast commitment to open-source research, ISSAI continues to drive its mission of utilizing AI for good and advancing technological innovation for Kazakhstan and the broader Central Asian region.