Ethiopian Kerchanshe, Brazil’s Embrapa Ink Landmark Coffee Technology Pact

Addis Ababa, February 7, 2026 (ENA)—Ethiopian Kerchanshe Group and Brazil’s Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening collaboration in agricultural technology, with a particular focus on coffee development and modern production systems.

The agreement was concluded a day after the historic Ethiopia–Brazil Trade and Investment Forum held in Addis Ababa, signaling concrete follow-up action to elevate bilateral economic ties to a new level.

The partnership will focus on coffee development in Debeka, Abaya Woreda, West Guji Zone of Oromia region.

Under the agreement, the two institutions will jointly work on agricultural quality enhancement and control systems, capacity-building for workers, and other related areas of cooperation.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, State Minister of Agriculture Efa Muleta said the agreement will play a significant role in Ethiopia’s economic growth.

He emphasized that the government will provide close follow-up and necessary support to ensure the agreement is effectively implemented and delivers tangible results.

ENA reported from the spot that the agreement was signed in the presence of senior government officials and invited guests, including Brazilian Ambassador to Ethiopia Jandyr Ferreira dos Santos and Embrapa President Silvia Maria Fonseca Silveira Massruhá.

Kerchanshe Group Chief Executive Officer Israel Degafa, for his part, noted that Ethiopia and Brazil share many similarities in the agricultural sector.

He stated that the agreement framework will help elevate cooperation between the two countries to a higher level, particularly through the transfer of Brazil’s agricultural development experience—especially in coffee development and technology transfer.

According to information shared during the event, Kerchanshe currently exports coffee seedlings to more than 20 countries, underscoring Ethiopia’s expanding footprint in global coffee value chains.

The signing ceremony comes on the heels of the largest-ever Ethiopia–Brazil Trade and Investment Forum, held in Addis Ababa on February 6, 2026.

Embrapa, a leading research institution under Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply, plays a central role in transforming tropical agriculture through science-driven and sustainable solutions.

The corporation is known for its expertise in research, development and innovation (RD&I), including plant genetic improvement, soil-plant systems, bio-inputs, and climate-smart agricultural practices.

Through its international cooperation arm, Embrapa has been expanding partnerships across Africa and Latin America, promoting knowledge exchange, technical capacity-building, and technology transfer to address shared ecological and agricultural challenges.

Its focus on sustainable agriculture, low-carbon production systems, and innovation-driven solutions aligns closely with Ethiopia’s efforts to modernize its agricultural sector, enhance productivity, and strengthen food security.

The newly signed agreement is therefore expected to serve not only as a bilateral business arrangement but also as a strategic bridge for technology transfer and long-term collaboration in tropical agriculture—particularly in coffee, a flagship export commodity for Ethiopia.

With both countries recognized as global coffee powerhouses, the partnership signals a new chapter in leveraging research, innovation, and South-South cooperation to boost value addition, quality standards, and competitiveness in international markets.