Kenya Embassy Newsletter 2 of 2025

This second edition of 2025 spotlights how bilateral partnerships are shaping a more climate-resilient food system, fostering fair trade, and unlocking opportunities for Kenyan agribusiness. From flower markets to dryland restoration, and from potato innovation to inclusive finance, this roundup captures momentum across Kenya’s green and blue economies.

Floriculture at IFTEX 2025: Greener blooms, stronger markets

Kenya’s floriculture sector showcased cutting-edge practices at IFTEX 2025, with growers, breeders, logistics firms, and buyers aligning around higher standards for sustainability and quality. Discussions centered on reducing post-harvest losses, shifting to low-carbon cold chains, phasing out high-impact inputs, and meeting evolving consumer expectations. Producers highlighted investments in precision irrigation, integrated pest management, and data-driven traceability—advances that protect biodiversity while strengthening export reliability.

Reviving arid and semi-arid lands

Dryland counties continued to scale nature-positive restoration. Communities are expanding farmer-managed natural regeneration, reseeding rangelands, and protecting water sources with sand dams and solar pumping. New drought-tolerant varieties, fodder banks, and mobile veterinary services are helping pastoralists stabilize herds and incomes despite erratic rainfall. These efforts do more than capture carbon; they buffer livelihoods against climate shocks while conserving fragile ecosystems.

Potato innovation takes center stage

Marking global celebrations of the potato, stakeholders emphasized how this staple can drive rural incomes and nutrition if backed by smarter value chains. Priorities include certified seed systems to curb disease, cold storage and aggregation hubs to smooth seasonal gluts, and processing lines that add value for domestic and export markets. Breeders and growers are advancing climate-smart varieties with better resistance to late blight and heat, while extension teams promote soil health, water efficiency, and safe pesticide use. The message is clear: a resilient potato sector is both a climate strategy and a pathway to jobs.

SNV-led initiatives: LISTEN and CRAFT

Two SNV-led programs, LISTEN and CRAFT, continued to lift productivity while lowering climate risk. Across dairy, horticulture, and staple crops, farmers are adopting climate-smart practices such as mulching, cover crops, efficient irrigation, and diversified rotations. Climate information services and index insurance are broadening safety nets, while business acceleration and market linkages are helping enterprises scale. A strong thread running through both initiatives is gender inclusion: training schedules, financial products, and leadership tracks are tailored to women and youth to ensure benefits reach those who are most affected by climate impacts.

Women leading climate action

This edition highlights Kenyan women driving change across landscapes and value chains. In coastal communities, women’s groups are restoring mangroves and trialing saline-tolerant crops. In highland counties, women-led cooperatives are multiplying clean seed potatoes and coordinating bulk storage to reduce losses. Entrepreneurs are piloting solar dryers for herbs, fruits, and fish, powering new income streams with lower emissions. Their leadership is redefining resilience—from household nutrition to market competitiveness.

Climate finance: Turning plans into projects

Ambitious ideas need capital. Several pathways are gaining traction for agrifood businesses and producer organizations:

• Blended finance that mixes concessional funds with commercial loans to de-risk climate-smart investments.
• Results-based grants tied to verifiable outcomes such as emission reductions, water savings, or restored hectares.
• Guarantee facilities that lower collateral barriers for small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Emerging carbon revenue models for agroforestry and rangeland regeneration, contingent on robust monitoring and transparency.

Strong proposals typically include clear climate rationales, realistic cash flows, measurable indicators, and safeguards for biodiversity and community rights.

Travel to the Netherlands: What to know

For short visits, travelers generally require a Schengen visa. Plan early to allow time for appointments and biometrics. Typical documentation includes a valid passport, itinerary, proof of accommodation, travel insurance, and evidence of sufficient funds. Business travelers may need letters of invitation and proof of purpose. Ensure that documents are complete and consistent, and consider travel choices that reduce your carbon footprint—such as using public transport during your stay.

Financing and tools for agribusiness

Enterprises scaling climate-smart production and trade can consider the following:

• Export-readiness support to meet quality standards, traceability, packaging, and logistics requirements.
• Credit lines and asset financing for cold storage, renewable energy, and efficient irrigation equipment.
• Risk-sharing mechanisms tailored to agriculture, including inventory finance secured by warehoused goods.
• Advisory on certification schemes that reward sustainable practices and open premium markets.

Entrepreneurs are encouraged to document environmental and social co-benefits—often a tipping point for investors and buyers seeking resilient supply chains.

Looking ahead

The months ahead will see deeper cooperation on climate adaptation, soil and water stewardship, and inclusive trade. By pairing science-based solutions with market access and finance, partners are laying the groundwork for food systems that nourish people, protect nature, and power growth.