December 4, 2025
For over 25 years, Corteva Agriscience & its affiliates have stood as trusted partners to Kenya’s flower growers, providing innovative crop protection and seed solutions tailored to the region’s needs.
As the company embarks on an innovative, rich future, Floriculture Magazine spoke with Mr. Anampiu Kithinji, Director WESCA, Corteva Agriscience Kenya, about their enduring commitment to the floriculture sector, upcoming product launches, and the company’s sustainability and innovation agenda.
Q: Corteva has been a strong player in crop protection. Could you briefly share your background and contribution to Kenya’s flower industry over the years?
A: Corteva’s roots in Kenya’s flower industry run deep. We have proudly served the country and the wider East African region for over 25 years, offering crop protection, biologicals, and seed solutions. With more than three decades of agricultural experience, Corteva has remained committed to helping flower growers produce healthy, high-quality blooms through innovation and partnership.
Q: What are some of the key crop protection products currently available for flower growers under the new Corteva brand, and what challenges do they address?
A: Corteva’s portfolio continues to offer world-class, environmentally friendly chemistry for pest and disease management. Among our most trusted solutions are Tracer® (Qalcova), a well-known product for controlling thrips and caterpillars; Delegate®, Radiant®, and Uphold® from our Jemvelva™ green chemistry range, which effectively manage thrips, false codling moth (FCM), caterpillars, and leaf miners.
For sap-sucking pests such as aphids, mealybugs, and thrips, we provide Closer® and Fidelity®, powered by Isoclast™. On the disease side, our reliable Equation Pro® continues to deliver strong protection against downy mildew and both early and late blight. These products represent just a fraction of our rich and evolving innovation pipeline.
Q: You’ve launched a new product and announced an upcoming one, too. What gaps are they filling, and how will they benefit flower growers?
A: Corteva remains deeply invested in research and development to provide our growers with new tools featuring diverse chemistries and modes of action for effective resistance management. We’re excited to introduce Verpixo™, powered by Adavelt™, a breakthrough solution for powdery mildew and botrytis; two major concerns for flower producers. Following closely is Salibro®, powered by Reklemel™, for nematode management. While Salibro® is already registered for potatoes, it will now also support flower production as older chemistries phase out. These launches are part of our long-term commitment to deliver modern, effective, and safer crop protection options for our growers.
Q: How does Corteva’s global research capability translate into local solutions for Kenya’s flower sector?
A: Every innovation we introduce undergoes rigorous local trials conducted by Kenyan scientists before being approved. This ensures that global Corteva innovations are tailored for local growing conditions. We are proud that Kenya is among the first countries globally to register our latest innovations. As leaders in the flower industry, we aim to keep our growers ahead by giving them early access to the world’s best solutions.
Q: Beyond supplying products, how does Corteva support growers in product use, safety, and efficacy?
A: Corteva maintains a strong local presence through our own technical teams and strategic partners across Kenya and neighboring countries, including Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda. We also tap into our vast global network for expert support. In fact, some of our international experts will join us during the upcoming Verpixo™ launch in November to engage directly with growers and share their experience.
Q: Sustainability is increasingly vital in floriculture. How is Corteva integrating stewardship and safe-use practices?
A: Stewardship and safe use are at the heart of everything we do. We emphasize responsible product use through training, technical support, and awareness programs to protect both the environment and the applicators. It’s essential to preserve the limited crop protection tools available while ensuring they are used safely and sustainably.
Q: Are there partnerships with associations or regulators that enhance your service to the flower industry?
A: Absolutely. We actively collaborate with all key industry stakeholders, including AAK/CropLife Kenya, FPC, KFC, FPEAK, SOCAA, the Ministry of Agriculture, KEPHIS, and various international partners. These collaborations ensure that our solutions are science-driven, compliant, and aligned with industry goals for quality and sustainability.
Q: Looking ahead, what innovations can Kenyan flower growers expect from Corteva?
A: The pipeline is rich and exciting. Beyond our chemical innovations, Corteva is now expanding into biological solutions through Corteva Biologicals, following our acquisition of Stoller and Symborg. Soon, our flower growers will have access to a broad range of biological products designed to complement existing crop protection programs and sustainably enhance productivity.
Q: What is your message to Kenya’s flower growers as the new Corteva begins this next chapter?
A: Corteva remains your trusted partner. We are here to serve and grow with you by continually delivering new, innovative, and sustainable solutions. Our goal is simple: to ensure that the world continues to enjoy roses, and not just any roses, but the finest quality blooms from Kenya- “Imagine a World without Roses.”
To all flower growers who have supported us over the years, thank you. It’s been an honor to be part of your journey, and we look forward to an even brighter future together. “With innovation, partnership, and stewardship at its core, Corteva stands ready to shape a sustainable future for Kenya’s flower industry.”