Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute celebrates 50 years, faces new challenges in global biodiversity and food systems
via The Reporter Ethiopia8 min read
The Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute EBI is celebrating its golden jubilee, marking 50 years of protecting Ethiopia's rich crop diversity and influencing global discussions on seed systems and biodiversity governance. Formerly known by various names including the Plant Genetic Resources Center/Ethiopia PGRC/E and the Institute of Biodiversity Conservation IBC, EBI has safeguarded over 90,000 accessions in cold storage and thousands more in field genebanks, including vital coffee collections. Ethiopian farmers' centuries-old knowledge and practices in selecting resilient seeds for diverse conditions formed the foundation of this diversity, which later became globally significant for traits like disease resistance and climate adaptation. EBI's establishment in 1976 was a response to the realization that this diversity was disappearing due to modern agricultural practices, habitat loss, and famine. The institute developed a unique philosophy, integrating conservation with farming systems, notably through the Seeds of Survival program, which helped communities restore lost varieties and establish community seed banks. EBI also played a crucial role in advocating for farmers' rights and their recognition as innovators in biodiversity discussions. As the world changes, with rapid advancements in genetic information technology and evolving biodiversity governance, EBI faces new challenges. It needs to transition from solely being a guardian to becoming a stronger research partner, n
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Must ReadNordic countries are collaborating with Ethiopia to advance its electric mobility sector through investment, technology transfer, and policy cooperation, ahead of the Nordic-Africa EV Summit in September. Swedish Ambassador to Ethiopia Magnus Lennartsson highlighted Ethiopia's role as host of the upcoming COP32 climate conference in Addis Ababa next year, emphasizing the opportunity to showcase Africa's green transition. He noted Sweden's "Climate Matchmaker" initiative, connecting African climate challenges with Nordic expertise. Norwegian Ambassador to Ethiopia Stian Christensen shared Norway's experience as a leading EV market, with 98% of new cars sold last month being electric, and encouraged Ethiopia to become a continental leader in clean transport. Mikkel Becker-Aakervik, CEO of Thought Leader Global, noted Ethiopia's rapid adoption of electric mobility, accelerated by government restrictions on fossil fuel vehicle imports. The summit aims to move beyond dialogue by establishing a matchmaking platform to connect businesses, governments, and investors. Aklilu Fikresilassie, Country Representative and Director of Cities for Africa at the World Resources Institute, stressed the importance of research and market analysis for evidence-based policymaking. Robel Seido, Vice President of the French-Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasized the need for workforce development and public awareness, advocating for youth training and technical education within the bro
Rawuda Ali, head coach of the Ethiopian U-17 Women’s National Team, expressed disappointment over her team's inability to participate in the 2026 CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship in Tanzania. The tournament, scheduled from June 13 to 23, will feature eight countries. The Ethiopian Football Federation decided against participation due to financial constraints, with Secretary General Bahiru Tilahun reportedly stating the tournament would not add value to the national team. Ali, a former Ethiopian women’s midfielder, believes the competition would have provided crucial international exposure for her squad, which is preparing for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers. She emphasized the potential of her players and the importance of such tournaments for their development and progression to the U-20 and senior national teams. Ethiopia is set to face Zambia in the final qualifying round for the World Cup. Participating countries in the CECAFA competition include Tanzania, Uganda, Djibouti, South Sudan, Somalia, Zanzibar, Kenya, and Sudan.
Ethiopian theatre, once a vibrant tradition in Addis Ababa, is currently experiencing a difficult period marked by declining attendance, increasing production costs, and the rise of digital entertainment. Historic venues like the Ethiopian National Theatre and Hager Fikir Theatre now host performances only once a week, with many shows playing to largely empty halls. For example, a recent performance of Shemgay at the Ethiopian National Theatre saw only about 50 attendees in a hall designed for nearly 1,200 people. Theatre professionals attribute this decline to several factors. Actor Getenet Teka, head of the evaluation desk at the Ethiopian National Theatre, notes that urban development has shifted populations away from city centers, and media promotion for theatre has decreased due to high advertising costs. Financial strains are significant, with ticket prices at government-run theatres rising to nearly 200 birr and single productions costing over 500,000 birr to stage. This makes attendance less accessible for theatregoers like Tefera Worku, who finds ticket prices and distance deterrents. Audiences like Efrata Tsegaye also express a desire for more innovative content, finding current productions repetitive compared to the diverse options offered by digital entertainment. Director Dagmawi Amelework points to weak audience engagement, institutional bureaucracy, and slow adaptation to contemporary practices as persistent challenges. He suggests stronger government support,
Must ReadA nutrition scientist in Ethiopia, Alem Greiling, founded Nutridense, a company producing oat-based cereals and infant foods from local oats, sourcing from 400 smallholder farmers and distributing through over 100 women-owned micro-enterprises. Despite strong demand, local raw materials, and nutritional relevance, Nutridense faces challenges in scaling due to a lack of processing equipment and investment support. PIN Ethiopia's Nutrition Capital assessment, conducted over six weeks in March and April 2026, engaged 35 stakeholders and revealed that Ethiopia's nutrition challenge is an investment architecture issue, not just a food production problem. Promising food enterprises lack the finance, data, business readiness, equipment, working capital, and buyer relationships needed for growth. Many small food businesses are underprepared for formal investment processes, with weak records and governance. PIN Ethiopia introduced the concept of Nutrition Capital to bridge this gap, advocating for not just funding but also the conditions that enable investment to reach essential foods, such as cold storage, processing equipment, and digital payment records for farmers. With a policy window linking agriculture, nutrition, climate resilience, and agri-finance, PIN Ethiopia aims to build this architecture by connecting food businesses, farmers, banks, investors, government, and development partners.