Alumni Workshop - Ethiopia 2025

9th - 15th March 2025

'Scaling - dissemination and Adoption of Best Agricultural Practices: Good Agricultural Practices in Restoring Natural Resource Basis, and Sustainable Food Production'

Workshop Impressions

Agriculture is the backbone of livelihoods and food security across Africa—but it faces growing challenges from climate change, land degradation, and limited access to improved practices. Adopting Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) is key to building climate resilience, improving productivity, and protecting natural resources. Scaling these practices requires collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange.

This year’s DAAD Agri-Alumni-Net Workshop brought African alumni of German universities to Ethiopia for a traveling workshop through diverse agro-ecological zones. The event fostered learning, networking, and exposure to successful examples of sustainable farming and food system transformation.

Organized by University of Hohenheim and Hawassa University, and funded by DAAD and BMZ, the workshop spotlighted Ethiopia’s leadership in climate-smart agriculture and inclusive development.

Program Summary

The 2025 program, running from March 9th-15th, included a 7-day traveling workshop across Ethiopia. Participants visited research institutions, diverse farming systems, and agro-industry parks. Activities ranged from field visits and hikes to strategy sessions and alumni networking events.

The program featured:

Exchange on tools for alumni networking and collaboration
Expert-led briefings on GAP innovations and climate-smart agriculture
Field visits to farms, universities, and agro-processing facilities across: Addis Ababa, Hawassa, Wondo Genet, Yirgalem, Dilla, Wolaita Sodo, Dawro-Tarcha

Program Highlights

Institutional & On-Site Visits:

Gullele Botanical Garden & Entoto Natural Park – Urban greening and ecosystem services
Hawassa University & EIAR Wondo Genet – Research on biodiversity and indigenous medicinal plants
Perennial Farming Systems in Dilla – Mixed smallholder farms for fruit, coffee, and Enset
Yirgalem Agro-Industry Park – Agricultural processing systems
Areka Agricultural Research Center & Wolaita Sodo University – Community-based innovations and cassava system management
Dairy Farm in Hawassa – Nutrient efficiency and intensive livestock systems

Workshops & Alumni Activities:

Strategy workshop with DAAD and local stakeholders at GH Hall, Hawassa University
Presentations by alumni on poultry value chains and business models
Brainstorming sessions for future alumni collaboration
Distribution of certificates