Viewpoint: ‘Herbicides reduce the cost of food production by half and triple yields’: Mass bans on synthetic chemicals would open the doors to 32 invasive species that threaten African crops

The fall armyworm, just one of invasive species threatening Kenyan agriculture. Credit: Lyle Buss
The fall armyworm, just one of invasive species threatening Kenyan agriculture. Credit: Lyle Buss

recent survey by the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) shows the 32 key Invasive species in Kenya include 11 arthropods, 10 microorganisms,  seven plants and four vertebrates.

Some of the chemicals used to control invasive species are targeted for a ban by activists keen on promoting organic farming in Kenya.

It is also part of the European Union’s plan to force countries exporting foods to Europe to stop the use of pesticides.

“Chemical weed control is the most effective method to suppress weeds in order to get healthy and vigorous crop stand.”, says Emily Chepkoech, an agronomist from Egerton University.
Follow the latest news and policy debates on sustainable agriculture, biomedicine, and other ‘disruptive’ innovations. Subscribe to our newsletter.

According to Thiong’o Mathenge, an agronomist in Nyahururu, herbicides reduce the cost of food production by half and triple yields of crops.

“The use of herbicides helps conserve the structure and composition of the soil which would have otherwise been damaged through ploughing as this would have left the field rough and cloddy,” he said.

According to the Agrochemicals Association of Kenya, there are more than 50 registered brands of herbicides that have all been assessed by the Pest Control Products Board (PCPB) and found safe.

Mathenge says all that is needed is the judicious application of these herbicides, not a ban.

This is an excerpt. Read the original post here.

{{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.singularReviewCountLabel }}
{{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.pluralReviewCountLabel }}
{{ options.labels.newReviewButton }}
{{ userData.canReview.message }}

Related Articles

Infographic: Global regulatory and health research agencies on whether glyphosate causes cancer

Infographic: Global regulatory and health research agencies on whether glyphosate causes cancer

Does glyphosate—the world's most heavily-used herbicide—pose serious harm to humans? Is it carcinogenic? Those issues are of both legal and ...

Most Popular

ChatGPT-Image-Jun-25-2026-12_23_17-PM
No, Bill Gates did not secretly engineer ticks to promote veganism
ChatGPT-Image-Jun-23-2026-03_12_23-PM
Is cellular reprogramming junk science? Nearly 20 patients are getting eye injections in the first FDA-cleared cellular trial
ChatGPT-Image-Mar-10-2026-01_39_01-PM
Viewpoint—“Miracle molecule” debunked: Why acemannan supplements don’t work
Screenshot-2026-06-15-at-1.55.27-PM
America's trust in Trump-Kennedy's CDC health recommendations is plunging
ChatGPT-Image-Jun-17-2026-10_52_43-AM
Anguished parents, doctors in tears: Utah’s long measles outbreak takes a toll
ChatGPT-Image-Jun-24-2026-11_36_47-AM
Why the human genome is less a script than a puzzle
Screenshot-2026-06-05-at-2.12.30-PM
Some plants can poison you. So how did humans figure out what is safe to eat?

Sorry. No data so far.

glp menu logo outlined

Get news on human & agricultural genetics and biotechnology delivered to your inbox.