The Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD) intends to partner with Kentegra Biotech, a company in Kenya working with pyrethrum farmers to produce natural/organic pesticides. This partnership aims to support Kentegra’s business expansion while helping to revitalise a climate-resilient industry that enhances biodiversity and strengthens farmer livelihoods.
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Kentegra is a Kenya-based agribusiness working with tens of thousands of smallholder farmers to cultivate pyrethrum - a drought-tolerant, climate-resilient crop used to produce natural pesticides. Operating across more than 10 counties in a landscape increasingly threatened by drought, deforestation, and chemical pollution, Kentegra offers a sustainable alternative that supports both environmental health and rural livelihoods. By strengthening local supply chains and promoting regenerative agriculture, the company is part of revitalising a once-thriving industry while advancing climate-smart, biodiversity-friendly pest control solutions.
The project with Kentegra has been put forward by the World Wide Fund for Nature Netherlands (WWF-NL), which, together with SNV, a global development partner, manages the DFCD’s Origination Facility to develop new projects for the climate investment fund. WWF-NL intends to sign a €230,000 grant funding agreement with Kentegra, and, together with WWF Kenya, they will carry out activities designed to scale the production of pyrethrum-based products both domestically and globally, empower smallholder farmers, promote gender inclusion, and advance climate-resilient agricultural practices.
“Kentegra is exactly the kind of project DFCD is proud to support - scalable, globally relevant, and aligned with Kenya’s national development goals. Pyrethrum is a crop Kenya knows well; in the 1990s, the country supplied over 80% of the global market. Kentegra is helping to restore that leadership while creating sustainable income opportunities for thousands of smallholder farmers. Its work is well recognized at the community level and is driving long-term climate resilience where it’s needed most.”
- Ian Isherwood, DFCD East Africa Regional Lead
Habitats threatened by human activity
Ecosystems in Kenya’s Rift Valley landscape are increasingly strained by habitat loss, pollution, climate variability, and unsustainable land use. Forests and grasslands face degradation from deforestation and agricultural expansion, leading to fragmented habitats and depleted soils. Economic hardship further limits communities' ability to adopt sustainable land management, despite their dependence on these natural systems.
Kentegra seeks to bring balance to the landscape, allowing people and nature to thrive through climate resilient economic activity. By partnering with thousands of smallholder farmers, Kentegra is driving rural prosperity, restoring sustainable land use, and supporting Kenya’s emergence as a global leader in biopesticide products. Domestically and globally, Kentegra’s products replace synthetic pesticides, reducing agricultural pressures, and promoting climate-smart, biodiversity-friendly pest management.
Pyrethrum farming provides significantly higher and more stable income compared to many traditional crops. Unlike seasonal crops, pyrethrum’s perennial nature allows for continuous harvesting every two to three weeks throughout the year. Its resilience to drought and other weather conditions, combined with lower input costs, minimises financial risk and crop failure, making it a viable crop for smallholder farmers facing unpredictable weather patterns.
By expanding their operations, Kentegra is not only revitalizing Kenya’s historic pyrethrum sector, that once supplied 80% of global supply in the 1990s, but also advancing biodiversity-friendly, climate-smart pest control globally, contributing meaningfully to local development and international sustainability goals.
The DFCD Origination Facility (OF) funding plays a critical de-risking role in Kentegra’s growth, providing support to accelerate market expansion, supply chain strengthening, and sustainability initiatives. The OF funding aims to unlock further private investment by mitigating early-stage risks and enabling long-term infrastructure growth.
Kentegra is scaling its pyrethrum production from 150 to 350 tons monthly through a new state-of the art Naivasha factory and expanded refining capacity. They will expand their smallholder network by recruiting 1,000 new farmers, with a target of 50% women and youth, in Kenya’s North Rift and South Rift regions. Farmers will receive high-quality planting materials, along with training in sustainable cultivation practices, financial inclusion mechanisms, and climate-smart agriculture. Capacity building activities will be delivered through structured Kentegra Farmer Communities (KFCs), which support farmer collaboration, peer learning, and shared knowledge in regenerative and conservation-based farming.
Farmer training programmes emphasise soil conservation, agroforestry, composting, and regenerative farming, equipping farmers with skills to enhance productivity while mitigating climate risks. Not only for pyrethrum, but across all farmed crops.
Biodiversity conservation is also integrated throughout the project, with a focus on soil regeneration, sustainable land use, and ecosystem restoration. This approach will be supported by ongoing farmer monitoring and training programs designed to promote environmental best practices.
Grant funding activities will focus on the following:
By securing the investment necessary to complete their larger expansion plan, the following impacts are predicted:
-Significant reduction in greenhouse gas (GHC) emissions annually and carbon sequestration from pyrethrum field and agroforestry practices
"We are excited about this partnership which aims to support Kentegra and its partner farmers to further the mission of protecting and preserving natural resources. We are committed to sustainability and inspiring communities to take action for a healthier planet.
Additionally, DFCD is a globally renowned organization in the sustainability sector and together we will drive positive improvements in biodiversity and conservation efforts through commercialising the industry further."
- Brian Mckenzie, CEO Kentegra
For more information, contact Ian Isherwood, DFCD Regional Lead for East Africa, at iisherwood@wwf.nl. In case you have any grievances in relation to this project of the DFCD’s Origination Facility, please contact us through our service desk at servicedesk@wwf.nl.
Kentegra is a purpose-driven U.S.–Kenyan company committed to creating a safer and healthier world. Through strong partnerships with over 38,000 contracted farmers, Kentegra provides access to high-quality planting materials, training in sustainable farming practices, and reliable market access. Their model supports inclusive economic growth, climate resilience, and a vision of long-term self-reliance for farming communities across Kenya.
The Dutch Fund for Climate and Development (DFCD) is a climate fund, dedicated to supporting climate adaptation and mitigation projects which benefit vulnerable communities and landscapes. Initially funded by the Dutch government, it is powered by a consortium of four expert organisations: FMO (Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank), CFM (Climate Fund Managers), SNV, a global development partner, and WWF Netherlands.
