How to get an organic policy in Kenya; Lessons from Denmark

Since the Kenyan government’s decision to lift its ban on GMOs early this year, There has been an increased conversation and demand for organic products. And as such, there have been conversations on how we can best establish an organic policy to help promote organic and sustainable agricultural practices across the country.

To truly know how we can do this, there is arguably no better country to look up to than Denmark. It has displayed innovative policymaking which has integrated both conventional and organic associations in its policymaking and hence in the process building a consensus that organic farming is an integral part of the Danish farm industry.

And the results are there for us to see. Proportionally, the organic market in Denmark is the biggest in the world, with organic food making up roughly 13 percent of the total retail food market in 2020, and up to 97% of the population knowing the meaning and importance of organic. This a clear illustration that Denmark’s ambitious organic policies are working.

Our approach to politicians is really an empathic one. We try to tune into where politicians are because organics offers so much. If their whole issue is only about economic growth, then we will talk about economic growth.

This Newsletter revolves around conversations I have had with Paul Holmbeck who was the Director and Political Director of Organic Denmark (?kologisk Landsforening) from 1999 to 2020. Mr. Holmbeck is also the Director, of Holmbeck EcoConsult and is a member of the World Board in IFOAM Organics International. Check Out the whole conversation Here:

For Kenya to have an organic policy, here are the 5 key lessons that Kenya can learn from Denmark’s experience in developing an organic policy that works.

1. Organizing and Mobilizing: Having served as the Director and Political Director of Organic Denmark (?kologisk Landsforening) from 1999 to 2020, Mr. Holmbeck shares their successful organizational approach. He emphasizes the importance of getting organized and highlights how they consolidated eight organic associations into one entity, Organic Denmark, in 2002. This strategic move proved significant as it allowed them to present a unified voice and forge partnerships with retailers, politicians, and other stakeholders. Mr. Holmbeck also advocates for public investments in building capacity within Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), as they play a crucial role in implementing organic policies and fostering a resilient organic sector.
2. Political Will and Stakeholder Engagement: It's clear from Denmark that developing an effective organic policy requires strong political will and engagement from relevant stakeholders. The most impressive feat is being able to get support from 10 out of 11 political parties. How were they able to do this? Well, Mr. Holmbeck explains: Our approach to politicians is really an empathic one. We try to tune into where politicians are because organics offers so much. If their whole issue is only about economic growth, then we will talk about economic growth, etc. Look, politicians have problems to solve, they have visions and dreams, and we want to help them solve that.
3. Regulatory Framework and Standards: From the early days, Denmark was able to develop a comprehensive regulatory framework that defines organic standards, certification processes, and labeling requirements. Thus, establishing and supporting independent certification bodies with the necessary resources and expertise to oversee the certification process and enforce compliance would go a long way. Kenya can also emulate Denmark’s approach, which adhered to the European Union’s stringent organic standards, ensuring consistency and harmonization of the organic market. Luckily in Kenya, we do have an organic standard in Kilimo Hai mark that we can work on establishing and making it mainstream. Of advantage to us is that the kilimo hai mark is integrated into the East African community, providing organic farmers in the region access to over 280 Million consumers.
4. Market Development and Consumer Awareness: The genius of the Danish policy is that It includes supply-side policy measures aimed at creating conditions for farmers to convert to and maintain organic farming and demand-side policy measures designed to increase the demand for organic food. For example, The Organic Action Plan 2020 (?kologisk Handlingsplan 2020) launched in 2012 estimated that if 60 percent of the meals served in the public sector were organic, an additional 20,000–30,000 hectares of land could be farmed organically. Collaborating with retailers, supermarkets, and food service industries to increase the availability and accessibility of organic products would be a great avenue for the Kenyan organic movement to explore in developing its markets and creating the necessary consumer awareness
5. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Continuous Improvement: This is an essential part of this entire process. Denmark was able to implement a robust monitoring and evaluation system to assess the effectiveness of their organic policy and identified areas for improvement. They Regularly reviewed their policy framework, considered emerging trends, technological advancements, and changing consumer demands, and Encouraged feedback from farmers, consumers, and other stakeholders to ensure the policy remains relevant and adaptive. In Kenya, this must also be done consistently to measure progress.

The genius of the Danish policy is that It includes supply-side policy measures aimed at creating conditions for farmers to convert to and maintain organic farming and demand-side policy measures designed to increase the demand for organic food.

In Conclusion, Kenya has the opportunity to learn valuable lessons from Denmark’s success in developing an organic policy that has propelled its organic sector forward. By getting organized, building political will, mainstreaming organic standards, developing markets and continually improving, Kenya can establish an enabling environment for organic farming to thrive.

Implementing these lessons will not only contribute to a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector but also enhance food security, environmental conservation, and public health. Let Denmark’s organic policy journey inspire Kenya as it charts its path toward a greener and more organic future.

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XOXO, The Organic Guy.

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