Scalable Alternatives to Inorganic Fertiliser in Kenya

This study from the CASA TAF program provides an overview of the Kenyan alternative-fertilizer sector and characterizes the state of organic fertilizer production in the country, defining its growth potential, identifying blockers to scale, and providing recommendations to address them.

There is a confluence of short-term and long-term factors—including the fertilizer price crisis significantly affecting food security, widespread land degradation, and the sector’s contribution to carbon emissions—that highlights the need to shift from an over-reliance on inorganic fertilizer in Kenya towards integrated soil fertility management practices. A number of compelling Kenyan start-ups are using innovative approaches for new organic fertilizer products. However, these businesses have not reached scale and operate at high cost, and there is a lack of consensus on which solutions offer the most promise. This study provides insight into how to address these challenges.