By Milliam Murigi
A new mineral-based crop technology that could help farmers improve yields while reducing their reliance on synthetic fertilisers and crop protection products has been launched in Kenya.
Plantos Verde, a natural mineral-based plant growth activator, was officially introduced to the Kenyan market on September 10 at the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO) headquarters in Nairobi.
The launch comes at a time when farmers are grappling with rising input costs, unpredictable weather and declining soil productivity, putting pressure on them to produce more from the same land.
According to Agrimedic East Africa Limited, the regional distributor of Plantos Verde, the technology is designed to improve how plants use nutrients and other resources rather than simply supplying additional nutrients.
The product is formulated from micronised calcium carbonate and 15 additional minerals and processed using what the company describes as patented tribomechanical activation technology.
It is applied as a foliar spray and is intended to support plant development, photosynthesis, root and canopy development and resilience to environmental stresses.
Ian Amani Jefwa, Agrimedic East Africa Executive Chairperson, said the technology should be viewed as part of a broader shift towards using agricultural inputs more efficiently.
“The future of African agriculture cannot simply be about using more inputs. It must increasingly be about using inputs more intelligently,” Jefwa said.
The product has undergone efficacy trials with KALRO involving Irish potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, barley, lemons and avocados. The trials were conducted with the involvement of KALRO’s Kabete Food Crops Research Institute, which provided technical expertise and research support.
The findings of the validation work were presented to agricultural stakeholders during the launch. According to Jefwa, the involvement of KALRO was important in establishing an evidence base around the technology rather than relying solely on commercial claims.
“Farmers should not be asked to believe in technology simply because somebody markets it well. Agriculture must be driven by evidence,” he said.
One of the key propositions of the technology is its potential to reduce the amount of synthetic fertiliser used by farmers. It has demonstrated potential to reduce synthetic fertiliser use by up to 30 per cent, depending on the crop, soil conditions, agronomic practices and application.
The company also reports potential reductions in pesticide and fungicide use of between 20 and 40 per cent under relevant conditions. However, Jefwa cautioned that the figures should not be interpreted as guaranteed reductions for every farmer.
Instead, he said, they represented opportunities that require further field-level evaluation, farmer education and responsible adoption. Improved nutrient-use efficiency could translate into lower production costs and better returns for farmers, particularly at a time when the cost of farm inputs remains a major concern.
“A farmer farms to put food on the table, educate children, pay bills and build a home. The farmer is running a business. So don’t judge agricultural innovations only by their ability to increase yields but also by whether they improve profitability,” he said.
The technology is also being positioned as a potential tool for climate resilience because it supports stronger root systems, plant structure and water-use efficiency, potentially helping crops withstand environmental stresses such as drought and heat. It also reduces dependence on synthetic agricultural inputs thus having environmental benefits.
