Kenya’s food system is in the throes of a climate crisis. From massive outbreaks of desert locusts that can eat as much food as 35,000 people can per square kilometre to low and declining crop productivity. Kenya needs to adapt its agriculture and food system to climate change.
Filling the gap between today’s demand and the projected demand for food in the near future is Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCV). The impact investment firm is at the forefront of prioritizing investments that deliver on agri-food transformational goals.
“We are at the forefront of addressing climate change by financing climate-resilient food system projects in Kenya. Developing countries such as Kenya are on the brink of experiencing the adverse effects of climate change but cannot afford its consequences. It is only imperative for KCV to make a consistent financial flow with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilience development,” says Victor Ndiege, KCV CEO.
The company has so far invested in ten agricultural enterprises; Mace foods, Exotic EPZ Africa, Hydroponics Africa, Kilifi Moringa, Dashcrop, Lentera Africa, Botanic treasures, Agri-Flora Organic Solutions, and Elgon nuts. The enterprises are currently receiving advisory services and technical assistance facilities that support the integration of sustainable agricultural practices and technologies across food systems.
“We strengthen these enterprises by identifying policies and technologies that enable locally driven design of resilient agri-food systems. Such systems are based on combining resources to reduce dependency on external inputs, in particular fossil fuels,” says Victor.
For instance, Hydroponics Africa has been harnessing the need for farmers in Kenya and the broader Eastern Africa to adopt the growing of crops using mineral nutrient solutions in water without soil.
“With food security garnering a high profile, thanks to the challenges brought by the Coronavirus, perhaps it is time to rethink hydroponics. One of our clients, Hydroponics Africa, is championing for the adoption of this kind of farm technology,” added Victor.
With the current pandemic, farmers can take advantage of existing technologies such as hydroponics and grow food on rooftops and in car parks to offer solutions to food shortage. This is impossible without leveraging science-based interventions to build low Carbon and climate-resilient food systems and developing new business models that prioritize sustainable food systems.KCV is championing for both the public and private sectors to deploy sustainable finance solutions that will create new business models and opportunities at scale.
