Seeds of Resilience: Kenya’s Farmers Growing Hope in a Changing Climate

Farmers in Kenya are adapting to the growing harsh weather and unpredictable patterns by embracing drought-tolerant crops. Sorghum, millet, cassava, and African leafy vegetables are returning to tables as staple foods in households across the country.

By Moraa Nyangorora

The recently held Trade Fair in Nairobi was a demonstration of the resilience of the Kenyan farmer in protecting indigenous seeds.

Farmers showcased drought-tolerant sorghum, pest-resistant cowpeas, and heritage vegetables like amaranth — crops capable of surviving unpredictable weather while nourishing families.

In partnership with the Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organisation KALRO, communities are reviving indigenous seed banks, exchanging local varieties, and embracing their right to choose what to plant.

Farmers receive critical farming information and weather forecasts in real time, sparking a rise in the adoption of climate-smart practices like water harvesting, composting, intercropping and soil regeneration to nourish the populace.

KALRO representative at the Trade Fair said through the Kenya digital agriculture platform, farmers are able to receive weather forecasts, agricultural insights, agronomic advice and market information.

“We are not just growing food — we are growing the future.”- KALRO

Beneath the vibrant displays at the Trade Fair lies a global conversation- one about food security, seed sovereignty and the fight to keep farming viable as the planet warms.

“If we lose control over our seeds, we lose control over our food — and ultimately, our future.”— Dr. Vandana Shiva, Environmental Activist and Founder of Navdanya, India

Across the world, food systems are under pressure. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and prolonged droughts are disrupting harvests from the Horn of Africa to the American Midwest.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) warns that climate change could cut global crop yields by up to 30% by 2050 if adaptation doesn’t accelerate.

For regions like Kenya — where agriculture sustains millions — the stakes couldn’t be higher.

THE SEED DEBATE

Seed Sovereignty Shaping Food Security Worldwide Power vs. Autonomy: Over 60% of the global seed trade is controlled by just four multinational corporations, limiting farmers’ rights to save and exchange seeds — especially in developing regions where smallholder farming sustains livelihoods. Biodiversity at Risk: The shift toward uniform, commercial seed varieties has caused a loss of up to 75% of global crop diversity over the past century. Communities across Asia, Africa, and Latin America are reviving indigenous seeds to restore ecological balance and resilience against pests and drought. Policy and Resistance: From India’s Navdanya to Latin America’s Red de Semillas, farmer-led campaigns are challenging restrictive seed laws. The UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants (UNDROP) and the FAO Global Plan of Action on Plant Genetic Resources reinforce farmers’ rights to seeds as essential to food security. Climate and Viability: With the IPCC warning of frequent droughts and failed harvests, seed sovereignty is increasingly viewed as a climate justice issue. Locally adapted, diverse seeds offer flexibility and resilience — making them central to sustainable farming futures.

In protecting its seed, empowering smallholder farmers, and promoting sustainable practices, Kenya is contributing to a global blueprint for food sovereignty and climate resilience. It is defining its future of farming in a warming planet.

Evaluating Progress Since the Paris Agreement: The EU Green Deal's Impact on Climate Efforts Ahead of COP30

By Moraa Nyangorora

COP30, the EU Green Deal & a U.S. Exit — What They Mean for Global Climate Action

Kenyans observed Oct 10th to plant trees and clean the environment

The world soon meets in Belem, Brazil for COP30 in the face of three big climate narratives colliding: Europe’s bold Green Deal, America’s announced exit from the Paris Agreement under its new administration, and the urgency for global cooperation.

St Bakhita Primary School in Nairobi Kenya striving to create awareness on conservation through art

The European Green Deal, launched in 2019, is pushing Europe closer to becoming climate-neutral by 2050.

Through the deal, there have been major investments in renewables, adoption of stricter emissions laws, and support for a “just transition” to support communities affected by the shift.

Europe is sourcing nearly half its electricity from renewable sources — a signal that policy and investment can move the needle. Far from being perfect, the EU green deal is seen as providing a model for ambition, aligned with accountability.

Dampening this spirit, however, was the declaration and signing of Executive Order 14162 by the US President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025, withdrawing from the Paris Agreement and related climate commitments.

A move that derails and complicates climate finance commitments, especially when it comes to implementing global funding goals. Reuters

Although some states, cities and coalitions within the US are pledging to pursue Paris goals independently, the withdrawal affects the US influence in shaping global rules, policies and carbon markets. There is rising criticism of the move, with fears of a leadership vacuum that may be filled by the EU or China. Clean Air Task Force+2White & Case+2

The US withdrawal, thus, is perceived as raising the stakes for other players and making COP30's success more crucial.

COP30

The meeting of the Conference of the Parties is expected to review and update climate commitments (NDCs), negotiate finance for adaptation and loss & damage, and chart pathways for carbon markets.

However, many countries are behind on submitting their updated climate commitment, NDCs, and financing remains contentious. Le Monde.fr

Europe is anticipated to enter COP30 with its Green Deal credentials and ambitious climate laws as bargaining leverage.

Meanwhile, the U.S. absence will spotlight whether the global community can sustain momentum without one of its largest historical emitters.

For countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, COP30 offers both risk and opportunity:

• Risk: With weaker participation from large emitters, pressure may fall on developing nations to carry more burden.

• Opportunity: The EU (and possibly others) may deepen partnerships, technology transfer, and targeted climate finance to bridge gaps in trust and resources.

COP30 looms not just as another climate meeting, but as a turning point.

With the U.S. stepping back and Europe pressing forward, the world will watch whether climate diplomacy can hold together when even the “big players” falter.

Africa — including Kenya — must stay alert: engage boldly, demand accountability, and align climate diplomacy with local innovation and resilience.

Innovation, Colour, and Climate Hope: My Week at the Nairobi International Trade Fair

Kenya’s Resilience!

By Moraa Nyangorora

Walking into the Nairobi International Trade Fair 2025, the air was alive with energy, filled with crowds and school teams from across Kenya, enjoying the tours as others danced to the live music reverberating in the air — the kind only Kenya’s agricultural show can create.

The fair’s theme, “Promoting Climate-Smart Agriculture and Trade for Sustainable Growth,” echoed through every display.

Vibrant flower beds at the Nairobi Trade Fair – a bloom of climate resilience.

From the colourful flower gardens bursting with marigolds and dahlias to neatly packaged grains, honey, yoghurt, and dried fruits, the fairground felt like a celebration of innovation rooted in soil and sun.

It was a reminder that agriculture here is not just about farming — it’s about identity, ingenuity, and survival in a warming world.

Innovation Meets Impact

Tucked between rows of exhibitors showcasing everything from tractors to irrigation systems, one booth pulled me in — Savanna Circuit Technologies,

A Kenyan start-up redefining how milk is cooled and transported in rural communities.

“We call it the Solar Thrive Solution Suite, it helps dairy farmers cool milk right at the source using solar energy — no diesel, no grid electricity, just the sun.”

The cooled milk is carried in lightweight stainless-steel cans, carefully balanced on electric motorcycles and solar-charged tuk-tuks — a simple yet brilliant logistics model for Kenya’s rural roads.

“We’ve seen up to a 40% reduction in milk losses in pilot areas,” the Savanna Circuit team explained. “Farmers say they no longer have to rush to deliver milk before it spoils — they can plan their days better.”

Beyond the Innovation

The trade fair was more than a showcase of technologies; it was a celebration of possibility.

From young entrepreneurs pitching agri-tech ideas to farmers proudly displaying hybrid crops, the optimism was infectious.

And as the sun dipped behind the fairgrounds, casting golden light over the flower beds, it was clear — Kenya’s future in agriculture is bright, innovative, and beautifully homegrown.