The Bioeconomy Cluster Formation and Roadmapping Workshop held on 28 August 2025.
Kenya is taking bold steps to unlock the potential of its bioeconomy, following the Bioeconomy Cluster Formation and Roadmapping Workshop held on 28 August 2025 at Trademark Suites in Enaki Town, Nairobi.
Organised by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) under the Africa Bio-economy Development and Knowledge (ABDK) project, the workshop convened key players from government, academia, the private sector, and civil society.
The project aims to show how Kenya can turn biological resources into sustainable solutions. It brings together researchers, entrepreneurs, and communities to test pathways for green growth.
Alphayo Lutta, a senior research fellow at the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) Africa, said the bio-economy is a driver of sustainable economic transformation.
He explained that it applies science and innovation to generate goods and services from biological resources, including food, feed, fibre, fuel, and high-value biowaste products.
“In Kenya, over 40 per cent of the population relies on biological resources for food, energy, and medicine, while agriculture contributes more than 30 per cent of GDP,” Lutta said.
“By embracing bio-economy strategies, Kenya can unlock the full potential of its natural resources, strengthen food and health security, generate employment, and build a sustainable pathway for economic transformation,” he said.
He explained that the problem has been the limited application of modern bioprocessing technologies. This has constrained value addition, slowed innovation, and kept farmers and entrepreneurs from reaching new markets.
Kenya-Sweden Partnership
The ABDK project is supported by the Swedish Embassy in Nairobi. It links Swedish and Kenyan partners to build capacity and share lessons in bio-economy innovation.
The project is implemented by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) with the help of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
Through the ABDK project, SEI aims to harness biological resources for industrial, agricultural, and energy purposes while promoting environmental sustainability.
Mapping the Bio-economy
Mary Mbenge, Programme Manager for Environment and Climate at the Embassy of Sweden, representing the Embassy in Kenya, said Sweden sees Kenya as a strategic partner in driving sustainable growth.
“Kenya is well placed to benefit from a strong bio-economy, and collaboration between Swedish and Kenyan actors will help to create lasting solutions,” Mbenge said.
She added that Sweden has decades of experience in the circular economy and sustainable innovation. Working with Kenya gives both countries a chance to grow together and test practical models for inclusive development.
Jamila Ahmed, a programme officer at SEI Africa, presented the mapping exercise carried out under ABDK. She said the aim was to identify actors in Kenya’s bio-economy and connect them to Swedish partners.
“We identified four bioeconomic clusters, and this will help us explore opportunities to build partnerships between the Swedish and Kenyan actors,” Ahmed said.
The clusters focus on value addition to food, bio-based agricultural inputs, bio-based industry, and sustainable bioenergy.
- Value Addition and Circular Food Systems
The first cluster targets enterprises engaged in food processing and circular innovation. The aim is to reduce waste, improve nutrition, and give farmers better returns.
Ahmed said enterprises working on agri-food processing and circular food systems are central to Kenya’s transformation.
“These innovations help us target enhanced nutrition and also to reduce waste,” she said.
This cluster also links directly to community livelihoods. It gives farmers and small enterprises a chance to improve their products and access bigger markets.
- Bio-based Agricultural Inputs
The second cluster looks at replacing synthetic agrochemicals. It includes enterprises that manufacture bio-fertilizers, bio-pesticides, and bio-stimulants.
“This will reduce the use of harmful chemicals and protect the environment,” Romanus Opiyo, Programme Leader for Sustainable Urbanization at SEI.
He explained that many small companies in Kenya are already working on natural inputs that can support healthy soils and crops.
This cluster responds to the challenge of soil degradation. It gives farmers tools that are safer, cheaper, and better for long-term food security.
- Bio-based Industrial Development
The third cluster focuses on biodegradable packaging and bio-based construction materials. This addresses two pressing challenges: plastic pollution and unsustainable construction.
Opiyo said this cluster has strong innovation potential. “We are looking at enterprises that can produce packaging that biodegrades and construction materials that are bio-based,” he said.
It also links Kenya to global conversations on plastic reduction. Entrepreneurs in this cluster can reduce waste while creating green jobs.
- Sustainable Bio-energy
The fourth cluster targets enterprises producing briquettes, biogas, and liquid biofuels. The aim is to reduce waste and promote circular energy solutions.
Ahmed said sustainable bioenergy is critical for communities that depend on firewood and charcoal. “Enterprises working on bioenergy are helping to reduce waste and also to promote the circular economy,” she said.
This cluster links directly to climate change mitigation. It also gives communities affordable and renewable alternatives to fossil fuels.
Opportunities for Scaling Up
Opiyo said the mapping also identified scaling-up opportunities. These include financing, capacity building, research, market linkages, and certification.
“Most of the scaling-up
opportunities we have are financing, especially access to concessional financing to fuel the growth of enterprises,” he said.
Ahmed added that certification and market access are key to building trust and expanding businesses.
She encouraged entrepreneurs to actively engage in training and networks. This way, the project can capture real challenges and respond with tailored solutions.
Beekeeping for Biodiversity and Livelihoods
Beatrice Muema, from Woodland Honey in Kitui County, shared her story as part of the ABDK dialogue. Her enterprise works with farmers to promote beekeeping and honey value addition.
“What brought me to this workshop is to learn and understand how I can contribute to the bio -biodiversity business in Kenya,” Muema said.
She explained that apart from honey value addition, her organization trains farmers in sustainable beekeeping.
Muema said beekeeping contributes to protecting biodiversity and supporting pollinators, explaining that the food systems of the world depend on how we are going to protect our pollinators, mainly the bees.
She added that her team encourages farmers to plant trees and fruit trees for nectar sources, adding that it links them directly to the ABDK goal of building circular food systems and value addition.
Muema said working with communities is key to success.
“You cannot say you are going to produce ten tons of honey on your own; you have to involve the community, give them a source of income, and provide a market for their produce,” she said.
Her enterprise fits into the ABDK’s first cluster on value addition and circular food systems. It shows how local initiatives can protect biodiversity while creating jobs.
Turning Hyacinth into Packaging
Joseph Nguthiru, founder of Hyapak in Kenya, shared how his company uses water hyacinth to make biodegradable packaging. His work fits into the ABDK’s third cluster on bio-based industrial development.
“Water hyacinth is the world’s most invasive weed and it is a problem in more than 70 countries,” Nguthiru said.
“We work with fishermen in Naivasha who harvest the water hyacinth, and then we process it into biodegradable packaging materials in Nairobi,” he said.
Nguthiru said the innovation addresses multiple problems as it enhances the removal of invasive weeds, substitutes plastics, and creates green jobs, which she added aligns with ABDK’s goal of linking industrial innovation to sustainable development.
Building the Evidence
Opiyo noted that Kenya has already adopted a bio-economy strategy. He explained that this is the first in Africa and places the country at the front line of continental transformation.
He added that ABDK is helping to connect policy to practice by supporting enterprises like Muema’s and Nguthiru’s.
“This provides evidence that local initiatives can fit into national frameworks. It also shows how policy can support communities and businesses,” Lutta noted.
Challenges and Gaps
Despite progress, many entrepreneurs face barriers. These include a lack of financing, weak certification systems, and limited research support.
Ahmed said financing is one of the biggest hurdles. She explained that concessional financing could give small enterprises the push they need to scale.
She further added that market access is another barrier. Entrepreneurs often lack networks to reach wider audiences and investors.
The ABDK project also links Kenya to the wider East African region. A regional bio-economy strategy is being developed to harmonize efforts.
“The regional strategy will help to scale solutions across borders and create synergies,” Lutta said, adding that Kenya’s experience can provide lessons for other African countries
This regional perspective shows that the bio-economy is not just a Kenyan agenda. It is part of Africa’s larger effort to promote sustainable growth.
At the community level, enterprises are already showing impact. Beekeeping projects in Kitui and hyacinth packaging in Naivasha demonstrate practical change.
They create jobs, protect the environment, and open new markets. They also show that communities are central to Kenya’s bio-economy transformation.
Swedish Support and Global Lessons
Carryl Masibo, Project manager at Business Sweden, said Sweden is keen to learn from Kenya’s experiences. She added that South-South and North-South exchanges are important for global growth.
“Sweden has experience in sustainable innovation, but we also learn from Kenya
’s creativity and resilience. This project is about mutual learning and building long-term partnerships,” Masibo said.
Kenya’s bio-economy is still young, but ABDK shows what is possible. Linking entrepreneurs, policymakers, researchers, and communities is already yielding results.
The challenge will be to sustain momentum and scale solutions. With the right financing, certification, and networks, Kenya’s bio-economy can drive transformation.
“By embracing bio-economy strategies, Kenya can unlock the full potential of its natural resources, strengthen food and health security, generate employment, and build a sustainable pathway for economic transformation,” Lutta said.
