Highlights of the role of the agriculture team in Ethiopia in 2024
In 2024, the Netherlands Agricultural Network (LAN) team at the Netherlands Embassy in Addis, Ethiopia played a role in advancing food security, sustainable agriculture, and trade facilitation. Working closely with Ethiopian and Dutch partners, the team focused on strengthening market linkages, improving food safety and Phytosanitary Standards, and promoting climate-smart agricultural practices in alignment with Ethiopia’s 10-Year Agriculture Strategy and the Embassy’s Multi-Annual Country Strategy (MACS 2023-2026). This article will highlight some of the team's key areas of work, though they represent only a portion of the broader efforts being carried out.
Enhancing Food Security and Agro-Logistics
A major activity last year was the effort to develop a sustainable cold storage system in Ethiopia, in collaboration with Ethiopian and Dutch partners. This included the development of feasibility studies and business cases alongside other key initiatives aimed at reducing food loss and waste by enhancing cold storage infrastructure and boosting Ethiopia’s export potential. Additionally, the LAN team worked closely with Dutch agribusinesses, facilitating connections with Ethiopian stakeholders in the horticulture, dairy, and poultry sectors to promote investment and knowledge exchange.
Improving Food Safety and Phytosanitary Standards
To support Ethiopia’s export compliance with EU regulations, the team assisted in the implementation of a systems approach to manage False Codling Moth (FCM) in the export of roses. This led to the development of an EU-approved framework that will ensure Ethiopian flower exports remain competitive in the European market. The team utilized Dutch expertise to enhance Ethiopia’s capacity and improve trade efficiency through the implementation of ePhyto, which is a digital system for the exchange of phytosanitary certificates. Additionally, the team organized Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) training programs for farms, improving their capacity to meet international food safety standards.
Promoting Sustainable Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation
Sustainability was at the core of the LAN team’s efforts, with initiatives to promote Integrated Pest Management (IPM), circular agriculture, and soil health. Training programs were conducted to introduce farmers to biological crop protection methods and encourage sustainable farming practices. The team also supported biodiversity conservation, particularly through the restoration of church forests in Amhara, which are critical for preserving Ethiopia’s unique ecosystem.
Supporting Dutch Agribusiness in Ethiopia
Despite challenges such as economic instability and security concerns, the LAN team in Addis remained a key partner for Dutch companies operating in Ethiopia, helping them navigate investment challenges, regulatory issues, and trade barriers. By facilitating policy discussions and business engagement, the team has helped create a more conducive investment environment for Dutch agribusinesses in Ethiopia.
Plans for 2025
These are just some of the key areas the team worked on in 2024, but efforts extend beyond these, with ongoing collaboration with Development Cooperation programs and other partners on various initiatives to strengthen Ethiopia’s agri-food sector. In 2025, the LAN team will continue to foster a resilient and sustainable agri-food sector that benefits both Ethiopia and the Netherlands through strategic collaboration, policy engagement, and technical support.
More information
You can reach out to the LAN team in Addis for more information or questions about these key areas via ADD-LVVN@minbuza.nl.