KDC, United Green Sign MOU To Develop $275 Million climate-smart Agri-food Systems Investment

Kenya has received a major boost following the signing of a national flagship climate-smart agri-food investment programme in partnership with UK-based company, United Green Group (UG).

The resultant partnership will deliver agri-fin-tech services for rural communities, high-productivity climate-smart farming and state-of-the-art agro-processing facilities, creating new markets for at least 100,000 rural households over the next five years.

The investment in partnership with Kenya Development Corporation (KDC), will adopt a rigorous development approach in the agri-food sector, which seeks to improve food security for Kenya and the region. The venture will reduce Kenya’s dependence on importing food commodities by approximately US$200 million annually, thus reducing Kenya’s trade deficit.

“Kenya needs a champion organisation to provide leadership and prudent investment, to develop inclusive, scalable, market-based, environmentally sustainable and high productivity agri-food systems. This project has incredible alignment to the Government of Kenya strategy and with the national Government’s Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) Flagships,” said Rebecca Miano, Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry.

The Agri-Food Investment will focus on four key strategic objectives including climate-smart and sustainable farming, improved nutrition, job creation focusing on women and youth and inclusive and demand-driven consumer markets

Speaking during the MoU signing KDC Director General Norah Ratemo said the partnership with the United Green Group is a significant step forward in our efforts to adapt to climate change and address food security in Kenya.

“At KDC we are committed to fostering resilience and adaptation across the agricultural sector. We continue to work closely with the Government of Kenya, development partners, and private sector stakeholders to implement innovative solutions that will enable our farmers to thrive in a changing climate,” Ratemo said.

“The UK Government applauds the strong commitment and close collaboration shown by British Company United Green, and Kenya Government, in this truly transformative investment in Kenya’s agri-food sector. The investment will support the Kenyan Governments’ strong commitment to agricultural transformation, will increased increase productivity and output, enhance livelihoods as well as strengthening Kenya’s food security in the face of global threats,” Neil Wigan, OBE, UK High Commissioner said.

United Green Chief Investment Officer, Neil Carter, said, “We are proud to be working in partnership with such committed partners in KDC and the Government of Kenya to deliver real-world solutions to address the impacts of climate change and delivering regional food security. We are also proud to be working with key development partners whom are assisting to build a sustainable and innovative business in the sector together.