Plantos Verde launched in Kenya as Agrimedic targets more efficient, resilient farming

NAIROBI, September 10, 2026 — Agrimedic East Africa Limited has officially launched Plantos Verde in Kenya, positioning the mineral-based plant growth activator as a technology aimed at improving agricultural productivity, input efficiency and resilience to climate-related stresses.

The product was launched at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) headquarters in Nairobi during an event attended by Agriculture and Livestock Development Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe, KALRO Director General Dr Patrick K. Ketiem, scientists, researchers, farmers, agribusiness leaders and development partners.

Speaking at the launch, Agrimedic East Africa Executive Chairperson Ian Amani Jefwa said the introduction of Plantos Verde was not simply about adding another agricultural input to the Kenyan market, but about encouraging a broader conversation on how farmers can produce more sustainably and profitably.

“This is not simply the launch of another agricultural product,” Jefwa said, describing the launch as the beginning of an effort to provide farmers with tools that can help them produce more efficiently while responding to mounting pressures on agriculture.

According to Jefwa, farmers are facing declining soil productivity, unpredictable weather patterns, rising input costs and increasingly frequent droughts and floods. These challenges are occurring alongside growing pressure to increase food production from the same parcels of land.

He said the situation requires a shift from simply increasing the volume of agricultural inputs used by farmers to improving the efficiency with which those inputs are utilised.

Plantos Verde is described as a natural, mineral-based plant growth activator formulated from micronised calcium carbonate and 15 additional minerals. It is processed using tribomechanical activation technology (TMA) and is applied as a foliar spray.

The technology is intended to support plant physiological processes, including photosynthesis, cellular metabolism and plant structure. Its proponents say it has the potential to promote stronger plant development, improve resilience, increase sugar content, strengthen biomass development and enhance yield potential.

Jefwa said the product is intended to complement rather than replace conventional fertilisers and sound agronomic practices.

“Traditional fertilisers primarily supply nutrients directly to crops. Plantos Verde is designed to complement that process by improving the efficiency of plant growth, nutrient utilisation, canopy development, root development and water use,” he said.

The launch also highlighted trials conducted in partnership with KALRO, involving crops including Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, barley, lemons and avocados.

Jefwa said KALRO’s Kabete Food Crops Research Institute had provided technical expertise, research support and testing environments as part of the product’s efficacy assessment.

He said the presentation of KALRO’s validation findings at the launch was important because farmers should be able to assess agricultural technologies on the basis of evidence rather than marketing claims.

“Agriculture must be driven by evidence,” Jefwa said, urging farmers and researchers to interrogate the findings before making adoption decisions.

He also recognised Dr Kimani Rugendo of Kevian for allowing an on-farm trial of the technology at his farm in Timau, Nanyuki, saying field testing was critical because agricultural innovations ultimately had to work under real farming conditions.

Beyond productivity, Agrimedic said the technology could help reduce farmers’ input costs. Jefwa cited product information and technical findings indicating a potential reduction of up to 30 per cent in synthetic fertiliser use, depending on crop, soil and agronomic conditions.

He also cited reported potential reductions in pesticide and fungicide dependence of between 20 and 40 per cent under relevant conditions, while cautioning that such figures should not be treated as guarantees for every farmer.

Jefwa said the claims should instead provide a basis for further field evaluation, farmer training and responsible adoption.

Climate change, he added, makes the search for more resilient farming systems increasingly urgent. Farmers cannot control rainfall patterns, droughts, heatwaves or floods, but agricultural technologies can potentially help strengthen plants and improve their ability to withstand environmental stresses.

Agrimedic also pointed to the environmental dimension of the technology, saying its mineral-based formulation and potential to improve nutrient-use efficiency could support more sustainable production. Plantos Verde carries certifications including FiBL Switzerland and ECOCERT, according to the company.

Jefwa called on the Kenyan government to create pathways for credible, scientifically assessed organic and biological agricultural technologies to be evaluated and, where appropriate, considered for inclusion in agricultural support programmes.

He said Agrimedic would welcome consideration of Plantos Verde under relevant input-support and subsidy frameworks, subject to regulatory, scientific and policy requirements.

Agrimedic East Africa has been appointed the regional distribution partner for Plantos Verde and plans to serve Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Somalia and Ethiopia.

The company said it would focus not only on distribution but also on farmer training, technical support, supply chains, monitoring and evaluation, and partnerships with researchers, cooperatives, financial institutions and agribusinesses.

Jefwa said the ultimate measure of the technology would be whether it improves farmers’ profitability.

He argued that agricultural innovation should be judged not merely by increased yields, but by whether farmers can lower production costs, improve crop quality, manage climate risks and achieve better returns.

“The farmer is running a business,” he said, stressing that the key question at the end of a production season is how much money remains after all costs have been met.

Jefwa urged farmers to test the technology, examine the available evidence and make decisions based on its performance under their own farming conditions.

He said the company would shortly begin onboarding distributors to establish a wider last-mile network across the region.

The launch brought together government, research institutions, private-sector players and farmers around a common message: that Africa’s agricultural future will require greater integration of science, technology, finance, markets and farmer knowledge.

Jefwa said Agrimedic’s ambition was to contribute to that transition by making agricultural technology more accessible to farmers.

“Global technology. Local delivery. One platform for East African agriculture,” he said.