From Fertiliser to Freight: How Kenya’s Flowers Can Go Carbon-Neutral

A baseline study shows that PtX could play a central role in decarbonising the cut flower industry in Kenya. The industry – one of the country’s biggest exporters and rural employers – is under pressure to cut greenhouse-gas emissions as global markets demand low-carbon products. Major emissions come from fertiliser use, diesel-powered transport, cold-chain refrigeration, and air freight.

The baseline assessment examines PtX technologies and their impact on decarbonising the value chain in Kenya’s cut flower industry. These include green ammonia for fertiliser, synthetic fuels such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), bio-methanol for marine transport, and ammonia-based refrigeration. The sector currently uses large volumes of nitrogen fertiliser, diesel, and high-GWP refrigerants, underscoring the need for cleaner alternatives.

While PtX solutions are promising, they face barriers: early-stage technology maturity, competition for floral residues, unreliable grid conditions, resistance to switching from air to sea freight, regulatory gaps, and limited coordination among value-chain actors.

Strategic enablers already emerging in Kenya include supportive green hydrogen guidelines, public-private financing models, long-term offtake agreements (e.g., SAF for Kenya Airways), cooperative models via the Kenya Flower Council, and R&D partnerships.

Recommendations include stronger policy support (such as SAF blending mandates), new strategic partnerships across aviation, fertiliser, finance, and research institutions, and tapping into global green-energy financing platforms.