Dr. Lawrence Banks, Director-General of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, conducted a series of visits to research facilities and innovation sites at Arba Minch University from June 14–15, 2026, as part of his official visit to Ethiopia, highlighting the achievements of the long-standing partnership between the two institutions in biotechnology research, innovation, and sustainable development. Click here to see more photos.
At Arba Minch University's Abaya Campus, Dr. Banks toured key research facilities, including the Food and Industrial Biotechnology Laboratory, Food Quality and Safety Analysis Unit, Fermentation and Food Microbiology Unit, Starter Culture Propagation Unit, Enset Starter Culture Mass Production Facility, Rhizobiology Laboratory, Medical Entomology and Vector Control Laboratories, and the Enset Product Showroom. The visit provided an opportunity to showcase the University's growing research and innovation capacity, particularly through the ICGEB-supported B-INOC project.
Dr. Teklu Wogayehu, Vice President for Research and Cooperation, stated that the visit marks an important milestone in elevating the collaboration between Arba Minch University and ICGEB into a broader strategic partnership. He noted that the partnership is expected to expand into additional research areas and contribute to the University's vision of becoming a research-led autonomous institution.
During the visit, Dr. Banks commended Arba Minch University for its achievements in biotechnology research and innovation and for effectively utilizing ICGEB support. He encouraged the University to strengthen its diagnostic and analytical service capacities, expand consultancy services, and utilize its advanced facilities to ensure sustainability and generate additional resources for research and development.
Dr. Addisu Fekadu, Biotechnology Researcher and Enset Project Coordinator, explained that ICGEB's support has significantly enhanced both the analytical capacity of the laboratories and the skills of researchers. He emphasized that the technical expertise provided by ICGEB was instrumental in establishing state-of-the-art facilities that meet international standards.
On June 15, Dr. Banks visited enset innovation and value-addition sites in Dorze and Arba Minch. In Dorze, he observed traditional and modern enset processing practices, visited women-led enset fiber enterprises, toured a community-based enset processing pilot plant, and visited Arba Minch University's Enset Park, a center for enset conservation, research, and innovation.
In Arba Minch, Dr. Banks visited Lucy Enset Manufacturing and its machinery manufacturing and assembly facility, where he observed the production of value-added enset products, including kocho and bulla flour, cookies, snacks, and waffles, as well as efforts to commercialize mechanized enset processing technologies.
The visits demonstrated Arba Minch University's success in transforming indigenous knowledge into practical innovations that contribute to food security, job creation, and community development. They also underscored the impact of the strong partnership between Arba Minch University and ICGEB in advancing biotechnology research, technology transfer, and sustainable development.
The visit is expected to further strengthen cooperation between the two institutions and create new opportunities for researchers, students, and communities through science-based solutions and innovation.
Arba Minch University
Spring of Wisdom!
For more Information Follow us on:-
Website - https://www.amu.edu.et/
Telegram - https://t.me/arbaminch_university
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ArbaMinchUniversityccd/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOO_nclhMo8M3r74OyPBlVA
Public and International Relations Executive
