Ethiopia is encouraging international investors to take advantage of the country’s growing agriculture sector.

The Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) of Ethiopia is encouraging international investors to take advantage of the country’s growing agriculture sector.

The government highlights a range of high-potential opportunities—from agro-processing and livestock production to agricultural machinery manufacturing.

In a recent interview with the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA), Sofia Kassa (PhD), state minister of the agricultural investment and input sector, said that Ethiopia offers a strong platform for agribusiness investment, supported by rising demand, abundant natural resources, and active government backing.

“Ethiopia's agriculture sector holds immense promise. From mechanization to agro-processing and livestock value chains, the opportunities for mutually beneficial investment are vast,” she said.

One key area identified by the state minister is the shortage of agricultural machinery. Sofia explained that Ethiopia’s efforts to modernise farming are slowed down by a lack of equipment, much of which must be imported using foreign currency. She urged investors to consider setting up local production or assembly of machinery, which would help meet domestic needs and encourage shared development.

Sofia also noted that Ethiopia has modern livestock facilities, including more than 10 internationally certified abattoirs. These are underutilised despite growing demand for quality meat—particularly from Saudi Arabia during the Hajj and Umrah seasons. This, she said, opens doors for investment in animal fattening and husbandry.

The State Minister also highlighted the potential in agro-processing, especially for seasonal crops like tomatoes and onions that often spoil due to limited processing facilities. Increased investment in this area could reduce waste and save foreign currency spent on importing processed foods.

She added that cold storage and cold chain logistics are lacking in the fruit and vegetable sector. With the European Union’s new regulations requiring better cold storage for perishable exports, she encouraged investors to help build the needed infrastructure.

“Ethiopia is ready for agricultural transformation, and we are calling on investors to partner with us in creating a modern, competitive, and sustainable sector,” she added.

Qu emphasised that food system changes must be fair, transparent, and inclusive.

At the UN Food Systems Summit +4 (UNFSS+4) Stocktaking Moment in Addis Ababa, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), QU Dongyu, urged global leaders to speed up the transformation of agrifood systems through bold action, increased investment, and stronger partnerships.

Speaking to ministers, leaders, and delegates, Qu stressed that agrifood systems play a key role in tackling global issues such as food insecurity, climate change, and inequality. “Transformation is not a distant ambition. It is already happening,” he said. “But the pace, scale, and coordination of our collective action will determine whether we succeed. The challenge now is not only action, but acceleration.”

Qu reflected on progress since the first UN Food Systems Summit in 2021. He noted that many countries have moved from promises to action, using policy changes, investments, and planning. Ethiopia was highlighted as a successful example, with FAO support helping cut post-harvest grain losses by up to 40% in some areas.

The Director-General identified three main areas to focus on for transformation:

1. Youth empowerment:
Qu stressed the need to support young people, especially young women, in agrifood systems. He cited FAO’s assessment on Youth in Agrifood Systems, noting that bridging gaps in education, jobs, and leadership could add up to US$1.5tn to global GDP—almost half coming from agrifood systems.

2. Innovation and technology:
Qu highlighted tools like the FAO-led Agrifood Systems Technologies and Innovations Outlook (ATIO) and the World Food Forum’s focus on investment, science, and youth empowerment. He also mentioned the FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative, which uses data to target funding where it is most needed, growing from us$1.5bn in 2022 to US$4.5bn in 2024.

3. The Right to Food:
Qu emphasised that food system changes must be fair, transparent, and inclusive. He pointed to FAO’s support for the Global Alliance Against Poverty and Hunger, launched under Brazil’s G20 Presidency.

“We are making systems transformation the new normal — hand in hand with governments, investors, academia, civil society, and the private sector,” Qu added.

Ethiopia’s coffee sector is showing strong growth.

Ethiopia’s coffee sector is showing strong growth thanks to focused national efforts to boost production and productivity, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

The announcement was made during a key forum held at the UNFSS+4 “Day of Action” summit, which featured visits to several food system transformation projects and a main event at the Science Museum on the future of Africa’s coffee industry.

Girma Amente, Ethiopia’s minister of agriculture, speaking at the forum, highlighted the central role coffee plays in the country and across Africa. He described coffee as much more than a crop—calling it a “strategic product intrinsically linked to history, identity, and economic development.”

The event focused on ways to transform Africa’s coffee value chain, with a strong call for more sustainable finance, better technology, and wider trade opportunities to help improve coffee production, processing, and value addition across the continent.

The high-level gathering included key global figures such as Amina J. Mohammed-UN Deputy Secretary-General, Jessica Alupo-Ugandan Vice President, Qu Dongyu-FAO Director-General , and Stefano Gatti, Director General for Development Cooperation at Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Researchers, policymakers, and private sector representatives also took part.

Girma spoke of Ethiopia’s success in increasing coffee production by using climate-smart farming methods. He also pointed out the growing international demand for Ethiopian coffee and its importance for foreign exchange and national pride.

Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General added, “Coffee is the primary livelihood for millions, especially smallholder farmers.” She stressed the importance of investing in production, value addition, technology, and market expansion to improve lives and transform the sector.

Jessica Alupo, Ugandan Vice President noted coffee’s importance to African economies and identity. She outlined Uganda’s efforts to grow the sector sustainably and inclusively, and said research and innovation are needed to tackle climate change and improve quality.

Italy’s Stefano Gatti confirmed continued support for coffee programmes in Ethiopia and Uganda. He called for more international cooperation to address challenges and fully unlock the sector’s potential.

Qu Dongyu, FAO Director-General said over 80% of smallholder farmers globally rely on coffee. He warned of the growing threats from climate change and price instability, and called for urgent global action to ensure farmers can benefit fairly from the coffee trade.

The forum, titled "Enhancing the Transformation of the Coffee Value Chain," was organised by the governments of Ethiopia and Italy, along with UNIDO, and the International and African Coffee Organizations.

The regulations also define what product names can be used.

South Africa’s Department of Agriculture has officially published new regulations for meat analogue products.

These rules, released in Government Gazette Notice R. 6436 on 18 July 2025, aim to bring clarity and consistency to the sale, labelling, and marketing of plant-based and other non-meat alternatives across the country.

The regulations are the result of thorough consultations with all relevant stakeholders, including those in the red meat industry. They set clear minimum standards for meat analogues, covering how products should be labelled and what they must contain to meet requirements.

According to the department, any product that uses terms such as “meat replacer,” “meat substitute,” “meat alternative,” or “plant-based protein” on the main label must contain at least 9% protein.

“The meat analogue products, also known as meat substitutes, mock meat, faux meat, or imitation meat, were initially defined in the Processed Meat Regulations as a product that approximates the aesthetic qualities (primary texture, flavour and appearance) and/or chemical characteristics of a specific type of meat,” the department said in a statement.

“These products are derived from non-meat ingredients, sometimes without dairy products and are available in different forms (coarse ground meat analogues, emulsified meat analogues and loose fill, etc.).”

The regulations also define what product names can be used. Names such as hot dogs, burgers, patties, sausages, schnitzels, and mince will be allowed for meat analogues, as long as the labelling clearly identifies the product as non-meat and helps consumers understand its true nature. Descriptive terms like frikkadel, nuggets, rounds, wheels, and sizzlers are also permitted.

However, the use of names or references that suggest a specific animal, such as “chicken-style,” “beef-style,” “chick’n,” or “b*con,” is not allowed under the Agricultural Product Standards Act of 1990.

Enforcement of the new rules will be managed by departmental inspectors, as no specific assignee has been appointed yet. The Food Safety Agency will oversee labelling compliance, and the Border Management Authority will ensure imported products follow the same regulations.

The department said the new rules should be welcomed by all industry players and consumers alike. “Consumers will enjoy the protection from the sale of misleading products. Furthermore, the publication of the Meat Analogue Products Regulations will foster confidence in the sale of meat analogues and meat products in South Africa.”