diff --git a/.github/workflows/conda-package-cf.yml b/.github/workflows/conda-package-cf.yml
index 4deacc14..188f4ef5 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/conda-package-cf.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/conda-package-cf.yml
@@ -21,24 +21,16 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       matrix:
         include:
-          - python: "3.10"
-            numpy: "2.2"
           - python: "3.11"
-            numpy: "2.3"
           - python: "3.12"
-            numpy: "2.3"
           - python: "3.13"
-            numpy: "2.3"
           - python: "3.14"
-            numpy: "2.3"
             python_spec: "3.14.* *_cp314"
             python_tag: "3.14"
           - python: "3.14"
-            numpy: "2.3"
             python_spec: "3.14.* *_cp314t"
             python_tag: "3.14t"
           - python: "3.15"
-            numpy: "2.5"
             python_spec: "3.15.* *_cp315"
             python_tag: "3.15"
 
@@ -78,7 +70,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Build conda package
         run: |
           CHANNELS=(-c conda-forge --override-channels)
-          VERSIONS=(--python "${{ matrix.python_spec || matrix.python }}" --numpy "${{ matrix.numpy }}")
+          VERSIONS=(--python "${{ matrix.python_spec || matrix.python }}")
           TEST=(--no-test)
 
           conda build \
@@ -101,24 +93,16 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       matrix:
         include:
-          - python: "3.10"
-            numpy: "2.2"
           - python: "3.11"
-            numpy: "2.3"
           - python: "3.12"
-            numpy: "2.3"
           - python: "3.13"
-            numpy: "2.3"
           - python: "3.14"
-            numpy: "2.3"
             python_spec: "3.14.* *_cp314"
             python_tag: "3.14"
           - python: "3.14"
-            numpy: "2.3"
             python_spec: "3.14.* *_cp314t"
             python_tag: "3.14t"
           - python: "3.15"
-            numpy: "2.5"
             python_spec: "3.15.* *_cp315"
             python_tag: "3.15"
 
@@ -166,7 +150,7 @@ jobs:
           conda list -n base
 
       - name: Build conda package
-        run: conda build --no-test --python "${{ matrix.python_spec || matrix.python }}" --numpy ${{ matrix.numpy }} -c conda-forge --override-channels conda-recipe-cf
+        run: conda build --no-test --python "${{ matrix.python_spec || matrix.python }}" -c conda-forge --override-channels conda-recipe-cf
 
       - name: Upload artifact
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@cf430e030ddbb5b0abf93d22962f4752f3646cd9 # v7.0.2
@@ -181,24 +165,16 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       matrix:
         include:
-          - python: "3.10"
-            numpy: "2.2"
           - python: "3.11"
-            numpy: "2.3"
           - python: "3.12"
-            numpy: "2.3"
           - python: "3.13"
-            numpy: "2.3"
           - python: "3.14"
-            numpy: "2.3"
             python_spec: "3.14.* *_cp314"
             python_tag: "3.14"
           - python: "3.14"
-            numpy: "2.3"
             python_spec: "3.14.* *_cp314t"
             python_tag: "3.14t"
           - python: "3.15"
-            numpy: "2.5"
             python_spec: "3.15.* *_cp315"
             python_tag: "3.15"
 
@@ -232,7 +208,7 @@ jobs:
           . "$CONDA/etc/profile.d/conda.sh"
           PACKAGE_VERSION="$(python -c "${VER_SCRIPT1} ${VER_SCRIPT2}")"
           export PACKAGE_VERSION
-          conda create -n "${{ env.TEST_ENV_NAME }}" "${PACKAGE_NAME}=${PACKAGE_VERSION}" "python=${{ matrix.python_spec || matrix.python }}" "numpy=${{ matrix.numpy }}" -c "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE/channel" -c conda-forge --override-channels --only-deps --dry-run > lockfile
+          conda create -n "${{ env.TEST_ENV_NAME }}" "${PACKAGE_NAME}=${PACKAGE_VERSION}" "python=${{ matrix.python_spec || matrix.python }}" -c "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE/channel" -c conda-forge --override-channels --only-deps --dry-run > lockfile
           cat lockfile
 
       - name: Set pkgs_dirs
@@ -251,20 +227,9 @@ jobs:
             ${{ runner.os }}-conda-${{ env.CACHE_NUMBER }}-python-${{ matrix.python_tag || matrix.python }}-
             ${{ runner.os }}-conda-${{ env.CACHE_NUMBER }}-
 
-      - name: Install mkl_random
-        run: |
-          . "$CONDA/etc/profile.d/conda.sh"
-          PACKAGE_VERSION="$(python -c "${VER_SCRIPT1} ${VER_SCRIPT2}")"
-          export PACKAGE_VERSION
-          conda create -n "${{ env.TEST_ENV_NAME }}" "${PACKAGE_NAME}=${PACKAGE_VERSION}" pytest "python=${{ matrix.python_spec || matrix.python }}" "numpy=${{ matrix.numpy }}" -c "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE/channel" -c conda-forge --override-channels
-          # Test installed packages
-          conda list
-
       - name: Run tests
         run: |
-          . "$CONDA/etc/profile.d/conda.sh"
-          conda activate "${{ env.TEST_ENV_NAME }}"
-          pytest -vv --pyargs ${{ env.MODULE_NAME }}
+          conda build --test "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE"/channel/linux-64/"${PACKAGE_NAME}"-*.conda -c conda-forge --override-channels
 
   test_windows:
     needs: build_windows
@@ -275,24 +240,16 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       matrix:
         include:
-          - python: "3.10"
-            numpy: "2.2"
           - python: "3.11"
-            numpy: "2.3"
           - python: "3.12"
-            numpy: "2.3"
           - python: "3.13"
-            numpy: "2.3"
           - python: "3.14"
-            numpy: "2.3"
             python_spec: "3.14.* *_cp314"
             python_tag: "3.14"
           - python: "3.14"
-            numpy: "2.3"
             python_spec: "3.14.* *_cp314t"
             python_tag: "3.14t"
           - python: "3.15"
-            numpy: "2.5"
             python_spec: "3.15.* *_cp315"
             python_tag: "3.15"
 
@@ -311,9 +268,9 @@ jobs:
           channels: conda-forge
           activate-environment: base
 
-      - name: Install conda-index
+      - name: Install conda-build
         run: |
-          conda install conda-index
+          conda install conda-build
 
       - name: Create conda channel
         run: |
@@ -334,7 +291,7 @@ jobs:
           FOR /F "tokens=* USEBACKQ" %%F IN (`python -c "%SCRIPT%"`) DO (
              SET PACKAGE_VERSION=%%F
           )
-          conda create -n ${{ env.TEST_ENV_NAME }} ${{ env.PACKAGE_NAME }}=%PACKAGE_VERSION% "python=${{ matrix.python_spec || matrix.python }}" numpy=${{ matrix.numpy }} -c ${{ env.GITHUB_WORKSPACE }}/channel ${{ env.CHANNELS }} --only-deps --dry-run > lockfile
+          conda create -n ${{ env.TEST_ENV_NAME }} ${{ env.PACKAGE_NAME }}=%PACKAGE_VERSION% "python=${{ matrix.python_spec || matrix.python }}" -c ${{ env.GITHUB_WORKSPACE }}/channel ${{ env.CHANNELS }} --only-deps --dry-run > lockfile
 
       - name: Cache conda packages
         uses: actions/cache@55cc8345863c7cc4c66a329aec7e433d2d1c52a9 # v6.1.0
@@ -348,47 +305,25 @@ jobs:
             ${{ runner.os }}-conda-${{ env.CACHE_NUMBER }}-python-${{ matrix.python_tag || matrix.python }}-
             ${{ runner.os }}-conda-${{ env.CACHE_NUMBER }}-
 
-      - name: Install mkl_random
-        shell: cmd
-        run: |
-          @ECHO ON
-          copy /Y ${{ env.GITHUB_WORKSPACE }}\ver.json .
-          set "SCRIPT=%VER_SCRIPT1% %VER_SCRIPT2%"
-          FOR /F "tokens=* USEBACKQ" %%F IN (`python -c "%SCRIPT%"`) DO (
-             SET PACKAGE_VERSION=%%F
-          )
-          conda create -n ${{ env.TEST_ENV_NAME }} ${{ env.PACKAGE_NAME }}=%PACKAGE_VERSION% pytest "python=${{ matrix.python_spec || matrix.python }}" numpy=${{ matrix.numpy }} -c ${{ env.GITHUB_WORKSPACE }}/channel ${{ env.CHANNELS }}
-          # Test installed packages
-          conda list
-
       - name: Run tests
         run: |
-          conda activate ${{ env.TEST_ENV_NAME }}
-          pytest -v --pyargs ${{ env.MODULE_NAME }}
+          conda build --test ${{ env.GITHUB_WORKSPACE }}\channel\win-64\${{ env.PACKAGE_NAME }}-*.conda -c conda-forge --override-channels
 
   build_osx:
     runs-on: macos-26-intel
     strategy:
       matrix:
         include:
-          - python: "3.10"
-            numpy: "2.2"
           - python: "3.11"
-            numpy: "2.3"
           - python: "3.12"
-            numpy: "2.3"
           - python: "3.13"
-            numpy: "2.3"
           - python: "3.14"
-            numpy: "2.3"
             python_spec: "3.14.* *_cp314"
             python_tag: "3.14"
           - python: "3.14"
-            numpy: "2.3"
             python_spec: "3.14.* *_cp314t"
             python_tag: "3.14t"
           - python: "3.15"
-            numpy: "2.5"
             python_spec: "3.15.* *_cp315"
             python_tag: "3.15"
 
@@ -437,7 +372,7 @@ jobs:
         shell: bash -el {0}
         run: |
           CHANNELS=(-c conda-forge --override-channels)
-          VERSIONS=(--python "${{ matrix.python_spec || matrix.python }}" --numpy "${{ matrix.numpy }}")
+          VERSIONS=(--python "${{ matrix.python_spec || matrix.python }}")
           TEST=(--no-test)
 
           conda build \
@@ -458,24 +393,16 @@ jobs:
     strategy:
       matrix:
         include:
-          - python: "3.10"
-            numpy: "2.2"
           - python: "3.11"
-            numpy: "2.3"
           - python: "3.12"
-            numpy: "2.3"
           - python: "3.13"
-            numpy: "2.3"
           - python: "3.14"
-            numpy: "2.3"
             python_spec: "3.14.* *_cp314"
             python_tag: "3.14"
           - python: "3.14"
-            numpy: "2.3"
             python_spec: "3.14.* *_cp314t"
             python_tag: "3.14t"
           - python: "3.15"
-            numpy: "2.5"
             python_spec: "3.15.* *_cp315"
             python_tag: "3.15"
 
@@ -491,9 +418,9 @@ jobs:
           channels: conda-forge
           activate-environment: base
 
-      - name: Install conda-index
+      - name: Install conda-build
         shell: bash -el {0}
-        run: conda install -n base -y conda-index
+        run: conda install -n base -y conda-build
 
       - name: Create conda channel
         shell: bash -el {0}
@@ -511,7 +438,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           PACKAGE_VERSION="$(python -c "${VER_SCRIPT1} ${VER_SCRIPT2}")"
           export PACKAGE_VERSION
-          conda create -n "${{ env.TEST_ENV_NAME }}" "${PACKAGE_NAME}=${PACKAGE_VERSION}" "python=${{ matrix.python_spec || matrix.python }}" "numpy=${{ matrix.numpy }}" -c "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE/channel" -c conda-forge --override-channels --only-deps --dry-run > lockfile
+          conda create -n "${{ env.TEST_ENV_NAME }}" "${PACKAGE_NAME}=${PACKAGE_VERSION}" "python=${{ matrix.python_spec || matrix.python }}" -c "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE/channel" -c conda-forge --override-channels --only-deps --dry-run > lockfile
           cat lockfile
 
       - name: Cache conda packages
@@ -526,17 +453,7 @@ jobs:
             ${{ runner.os }}-conda-${{ env.CACHE_NUMBER }}-python-${{ matrix.python_tag || matrix.python }}-
             ${{ runner.os }}-conda-${{ env.CACHE_NUMBER }}-
 
-      - name: Install mkl_random
-        shell: bash -el {0}
-        run: |
-          PACKAGE_VERSION="$(python -c "${VER_SCRIPT1} ${VER_SCRIPT2}")"
-          export PACKAGE_VERSION
-          conda create -n "${{ env.TEST_ENV_NAME }}" "${PACKAGE_NAME}=${PACKAGE_VERSION}" pytest "python=${{ matrix.python_spec || matrix.python }}" "numpy=${{ matrix.numpy }}" -c "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE/channel" -c conda-forge --override-channels
-          # Test installed packages
-          conda list -n "${{ env.TEST_ENV_NAME }}"
-
       - name: Run tests
         shell: bash -el {0}
         run: |
-          conda activate ${{ env.TEST_ENV_NAME }}
-          pytest -vv --pyargs ${{ env.MODULE_NAME }}
+          conda build --test "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE"/channel/osx-64/"${PACKAGE_NAME}"-*.conda -c conda-forge --override-channels
diff --git a/conda-recipe-cf/bld.bat b/conda-recipe-cf/bld.bat
index a08c27bb..28cc5082 100644
--- a/conda-recipe-cf/bld.bat
+++ b/conda-recipe-cf/bld.bat
@@ -1,2 +1,6 @@
+:: MKL is found through %LIBRARY_PREFIX%\lib\cmake\mkl, which is on
+:: CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH via the vs2022 activation script. Setting MKLROOT here
+:: would break the build: MKLConfig.cmake looks for %MKLROOT%\include with
+:: NO_DEFAULT_PATH and %PREFIX%\include holds no MKL headers.
 %PYTHON% -m pip install --no-build-isolation --no-deps .
 if errorlevel 1 exit 1
diff --git a/conda-recipe-cf/build.sh b/conda-recipe-cf/build.sh
index 72e5e4e6..65ecd921 100644
--- a/conda-recipe-cf/build.sh
+++ b/conda-recipe-cf/build.sh
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
 #!/bin/bash -ex
 
+# meson locates MKL via find_package(MKL CONFIG) -> $PREFIX/lib/cmake/mkl,
+# which is on CMAKE_PREFIX_PATH thanks to the compiler activation scripts.
+# Do not export MKLROOT: MKLConfig.cmake then searches $MKLROOT/include with
+# NO_DEFAULT_PATH and hard-errors if mkl_version.h is not there.
 $PYTHON -m pip install --no-build-isolation --no-deps .
diff --git a/conda-recipe-cf/conda_build_config.yaml b/conda-recipe-cf/conda_build_config.yaml
index a830d0aa..dce869b5 100644
--- a/conda-recipe-cf/conda_build_config.yaml
+++ b/conda-recipe-cf/conda_build_config.yaml
@@ -2,21 +2,23 @@ c_compiler:                   # [linux]
     - gcc                     # [linux]
 cxx_compiler:                 # [linux]
     - gxx                     # [linux]
-cxx_compiler_version:         # [linux]
-    - '14'                    # [linux]
 c_stdlib:                     # [linux]
     - sysroot                 # [linux]
 c_stdlib_version:             # [linux]
-    - '2.28'                  # [linux]
+    - '2.17'                  # [linux]
 c_compiler:                   # [osx]
     - clang                   # [osx]
 cxx_compiler:                 # [osx]
     - clangxx                 # [osx]
 c_stdlib:                     # [osx]
     - macosx_deployment_target  # [osx]
+c_stdlib_version:             # [osx]
+    - '11.0'                  # [osx]
 c_stdlib:                     # [win]
     - vs                      # [win]
 cxx_compiler:                 # [win]
     - vs2022                  # [win]
 c_compiler:                   # [win]
     - vs2022                  # [win]
+numpy:
+    - '2'
diff --git a/conda-recipe-cf/meta.yaml b/conda-recipe-cf/meta.yaml
index 96b019f5..6035d0a9 100644
--- a/conda-recipe-cf/meta.yaml
+++ b/conda-recipe-cf/meta.yaml
@@ -9,27 +9,25 @@ build:
     number: {{ GIT_DESCRIBE_NUMBER }}
     ignore_run_exports:
       - blas
-      - numpy
 
 requirements:
     build:
       - {{ compiler('c') }}
       - {{ compiler('cxx') }}
       - {{ stdlib('c') }}
-    host:
-      - meson-python >=0.16.0
       - cmake
       - ninja
+    host:
+      - meson-python >=0.16.0
+      - meson >=1.8.3
       - python
       - mkl-devel
       - cython >=3.1.0
       - numpy
       - pip
-      - wheel  >=0.41.3
     run:
       - python
-      - {{ pin_compatible('numpy', min_pin="x.x", max_pin="x") }}
-      - {{ pin_compatible('mkl', min_pin="x.x", max_pin="x") }}
+      - numpy >=1.26.4
 
 test:
     commands: