Arba Minch University(AMU), Aarhus University-Denmark, Jimma University, FDRE Technical Vocational Training Institute, associate partners Anjo-Nus Food Processing PLC and Pulto Agricultural Activities cooperative collaboratively kick off a new five year project entitled “Food Security in the face of climate changes: resilient Enset Production with less Resource Use (Future-Enset)” on 6th May, 2025. AMU top management officials, all partners and associate partners, project team members, officials from stakeholders and others graced the event. Click here to see more photos.
AMU President, Abdella Kemal (PhD, Ing.), in his opening remarks, said, Enset is not only drought tolerant crop and nutritionally rich crop but also it serves as a critical livestock feed during dry season. Despite its immense potential, challenges related to limited improved varieties, post harvest technologies and value added output production continued to constraint its food utilization; in recent years, we have seen encouraging progresses in Enset research and innovation supported by dedicated institutions and funding partners, he noted. This strategic collaboration which brings together AMU, Aarhus and Jimma Universities, FDRE Technical and Vocational Training Institute and the secondary partners: Anjo-Nus Food Processing PLC and Pulto Agricultural Activities cooperative will drive innovation in Enset farming by optimizing resource boosting productivity and adding value along the supply chain; this in turn, ensures research translation to real world impact through technology adoption, entrepreneurship, job creation and community engagement, the president remarked.
We come together at a time when the world is grappling with numerous challenges: climate change and food insecurity among others, Teklu Wegayehu (PhD), VP for Research and Cooperation Office, said. In this context, the importance of Enset cannot be overstated and working towards climate resilient food systems is not a matter of option but a must-do obligation. The ages-old crop, Enset, passed down through generations with lots of challenges and with tireless efforts in research, it will be used to tackle one of the most critical challenges of food insecurity, he remarked. We are taking vital steps towards building a more sustainable and resilient future for communities who rely on Enset and potentially inspiring similar initiatives globally, Dr. Teklu further added. Let's embrace the challenges as opportunities, celebrate our successes whether they are big or small, foster an environment of open communication, mutual respect and unwavering support for one another and harness the strongest benefits of our diversity and shared purpose as our guiding light, he called upon the audience.
Prof. Milena Corredig from Aarhus University-Denmark and project PI, presenting the overall project structure, said, the partnership aims to improve the resilience and sustainability of Enset-based production system by providing a new toolbox for growers to obtain better plant for processors to create a more stable supply, higher food safety, nutritious food products for end users with less manual work. To ensure the success and implementation, the project focuses on germplasm selection for climate resilience and agricultural practices, improves post-harvest system tools and creates food value-adding concept while decreasing labor, she briefed. The Future-Enset project is funded over 200 million ETB by Denmark government and will run for five years.
The Future-Enset project is funded by Foreign Affairs Minister of Denmark Government; its aim is to identify and support climate resilient crop from propagation to market value added chain, Belay Haile (PhD), project team member and Project coordinator of AMU, said. The project will support 4 PhD and 7 master students, and 9 researchers who are working on enset for next 5 years, he explained. On the other hand, Solomon Tulu (PhD) from Jimma University, dean of College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, on his part, said, the project is for end-to-end because it is dealing with all value chain of the crop.
All partners and associate partners introduced about their institutions; AMU presented two papers on status of Enset research and challenges. Tesfaye Habtemariam (PhD), Belay Haile (PhD) and Sabura Shara (PhD) moderated the event according the schedule.
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