Kenya, Netherlands Launch GreenLinks Project to Help Farmers Produce Safer Food and Access Premium Markets

Kenyan smallholder farmers are set to gain improved access to premium markets and adopt safer, more sustainable farming practices under a new Kenya–Netherlands partnership aimed at strengthening food safety and transforming the country’s horticulture sector.

The initiative, known as the GreenLinks Project, is a three-year programme jointly funded by the Dutch government through the Netherlands Enterprise Agency and private sector partners. It will support 300 small and medium-scale farmers in Kajiado, Kikuyu and Thika sub-counties to produce safer vegetables, reduce dependence on chemical pesticides, and improve access to high-value domestic and international markets.

The project is being implemented by Koppert Biological Systems, Holland Greentech, FutureWater, Latia Agribusiness Solutions and Greenspoon, bringing together Dutch agricultural innovations and local expertise to improve Kenya’s horticultural value chain.

Participating farmers will receive training in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Integrated Pest Management (IPM), post-harvest handling, and sustainable production systems. The programme will also provide access to biological crop protection products, improved hybrid seed varieties, and precision irrigation advisory services to enhance productivity while reducing environmental impacts.

Speaking during the project’s launch in Isinya, Kajiado County, Agricultural Counsellor at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kenya Bart Pauwels said the initiative seeks to tackle two persistent challenges facing Kenyan farmers: food safety and reliable market access.

He said the GreenLinks Project is one of several partnerships between the Dutch government and the private sector aimed at strengthening Kenya’s agricultural sector by helping farmers improve yields, adopt sustainable production methods, and secure long-term commercial opportunities.

Pauwels noted that consumer demand for safe, traceable, and environmentally sustainable food continues to grow, making it increasingly important for farmers to adopt production systems that minimise pesticide residues while maintaining high crop quality.

He added that improving food safety should benefit both local and export consumers, stressing that high-quality produce should be readily available to Kenyan households and not be produced exclusively for overseas markets.

Food safety has become an increasingly important issue in Kenya as concerns grow over pesticide residues in vegetables sold in urban markets. The project will promote the use of biological crop protection solutions and other sustainable alternatives that reduce reliance on conventional chemical pesticides without compromising productivity.

Charles Macharia said achieving safer food production requires equipping farmers with practical technologies, knowledge, and affordable alternatives rather than simply encouraging behavioural change.

To strengthen market access, the project will establish three collection centres in Kajiado, Kikuyu, and Thika. The facilities will serve as aggregation, quality assurance, and farmer training hubs, ensuring vegetables meet strict food safety and traceability standards before reaching consumers.

Each centre will also include an agricultural input outlet where growers can access approved seeds, biological crop protection products, and other essential farming supplies.

Through partnerships with retailers such as Greenspoon, participating farmers will be connected to premium markets offering improved farm-gate prices, while consumers will gain access to vegetables produced under verified food safety standards.

The project will also undertake an export-readiness assessment to determine how participating farmers can comply with the European Union’s stringent food safety regulations and maximum pesticide residue limits, creating future opportunities for international trade.

Pauwels said the Netherlands remains one of Kenya’s most important agricultural trading partners, supporting key export value chains such as flowers, avocados, French beans, and spices. He added that the Dutch government will continue working with Kenyan institutions and private enterprises to strengthen agricultural innovation, improve market access, and promote sustainable food production.

Stakeholders say the GreenLinks Project has the potential to enhance consumer confidence in locally produced vegetables while helping smallholder farmers increase incomes through better production practices, stronger value chains, and access to higher-value markets.