Food rights

High use of synthetic fertilizers has tremendous effects on the health, texture and quality of the soil, affecting crop production in the long run. They quickly boost plant growth but do little to stimulate soil life, improve soil texture, or improve soil's long-term fertility. Since they are highly water-soluble, it makes it easy for them to leach into waterways.  

The Route to Food Initiative, a program component of the Heinrich Boell Foundation, has launched a special edition of the Chakula Magazine, a graphic novel entitled “The Blind Spot.”

Many pesticides are banned in the European Union. It is illegal to use them in EU Member States, yet it is allowed to produce and export them to third countries – where they pose great risks to people and their environment.

Beneficial insects provide enormous ecosystem services to Africa. However, to continue benefitting from these natural processes, sustainable farming and environmental management practices need to be promoted.

Pesticide use leads to residues in food to which many people around the world are exposed. Kenya is no exception. Global trade of pesticide products and produce means that contaminated food is every consumer’s responsibility.

The Route to Food Initiative (RTFI) sought to assess the current situation in regard to the perception of Kenyans about GMOs. RTFI, contracted a research firm, Infotrak Research and Consulting to undertake the research. Over 8000 respondents from all counties in Kenya were contacted for this survey. Quantitative data was collected through Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI), targeting the Kenyan adult population across all the regions. The data was then systematically analysed. Key issues of focus included level of awareness, willingness to consume and grow GMOs, and access to information on GMOs. These variables were analysed against various demographic aspects of the respondents.

In Africa, fewer pesticides are used than in other regions of the world. Nevertheless the 33 million smallholders are increasingly becoming the focus of pesticide companies. There they also sell what has been banned in the European Union.

Most of the pesticides used in Kenya are highly hazardous. Toxic products are cheaper for farmers despite their negative consequences and are mostly used on maize, wheat, coffee, potatoes, and tomatoes.