Kenya hosts workshop to boost organic agriculture markets

Kenya is hosting the 4th Kenya National Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) Workshop in Nairobi, bringing together over 50 stakeholders to discuss expanding market access for organic agriculture. The two-day event, hosted by the Kenya Organic Agriculture Network (KOAN), focuses on the role of community-based certification in promoting organic farming and building resilient food systems.

Under the theme “Developing Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) as a Core Enabler of Agroecological Transformation: Building Trust, Markets, and Resilient Food Systems,” the workshop gathers representatives from Kenya’s 35 approved Kilimohai PGS groups, civil society organizations, organic traders, retailers, and more. Participatory Guarantee Systems are locally-based quality assurance mechanisms that enable farmers, consumers, and other stakeholders to jointly verify that agricultural produce meets organic and agroecological standards.

This alternative approach to organic certification is particularly beneficial for smallholder farmers seeking to sell their products in local markets, as conventional certification can be prohibitively expensive. Currently, more than 4,000 farmers in Kenya participate in PGS groups, contributing to the expansion of organic products in small towns and local markets.

With land under organic management reaching 176,200 hectares in 2024 and annual turnover at KSh545.7 million, the workshop aims to reinforce collaboration among farmers, civil society groups, and market actors. The ultimate goal is to build consumer trust, broaden market opportunities for organically produced food, and support more resilient food systems.