Arba Minch University (AMU) senior officials held discussion with a delegation team from the Institute for Commercial Research (ICFR) and the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) on potential future sustainable academic and research partnerships at AMU President’s Office on January 9, 2026. Click here to see more photos.
Dr. Bogale Gebremariam, delegate of the AMU President and Vice President for Academic Affairs, said that the discussion with the visiting delegation focused on identifying opportunities for long-term and sustainable partnerships in capacity building, agroforestry solutions addressing improved tree for pest and disease management, tree products commercialization, and restoring degraded lands. He added that such collaboration would contribute practical solutions to local community energy and climate challenges, strengthen tree value chains, and expand market opportunities for local farmers. Dr. Bogale further remarked that future collaboration with the University of Pretoria and KawaZulu-Natal would open avenues for experience sharing, as well as student and staff exchange programs.
Dr. Teklu Wegayehu, Vice President for Research and Cooperation at AMU, affirmed that as the University moves toward institutional autonomy, collaboration has become a critical priority. He noted that the University of Pretoria and South Africa’s University of KwaZulu-Natal bring strong expertise in forestry research, which, when co-harnessed with AMU’s growing research capacity, would generate mutual benefits for the partner institutions and surrounding communities. Recalling the RUNRES project, which involves partners from four African countries including the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Dr. Teklu highlighted it as an important foundation for earlier institutional engagement, adding that research on disease and pest resistant acacia (wattle) and eucalyptus tree species is already underway at AMU’s Gircha Highland Fruits and Vegetables Research site. He further explained that the delegation’s interest in expanding similar research to highland–lowland connector agro-crops such as enset and moringa signals a shift from a purely forestry focus toward broader agroforestry concerns. According to Dr. Teklu, the collaboration will also strengthen the linkage between academic - research and community engagement through enhanced student and staff exchange programs.
Dr. Tesfaye Habtemariam, Director of Research Affairs at AMU, briefed the delegation on the University’s research capacity, academic and research priorities, and community engagement trends, as well as its institutional structure and academic programs. He also highlighted AMU’s national and international collaborative partnerships and outlined potential areas for future cooperation. In his presentation, Dr. Tesfaye traced the University’s transformation from its early beginnings as the Arba Minch Water Technology Institute to Arba Minch University, and its current trajectory from status of a research university toward becoming a research-led autonomous institution.
Dr. Agena Anjulo, Lead Researcher of the Management of Pests and Diseases in Forest Crops in Ethiopia project and a consultant to the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), noted that AMU has been actively engaged in collaborative research with the University of Pretoria’s Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), the Institute for Commercial Forestry Research (ICFR) of South Africa, and Australia’s University of the Sunshine Coast. He explained that these partnerships have been implemented mainly through research and capacity-building activities hosted at AMU’s Gircha Highland Fruits and Vegetables Research Center, building on earlier joint work in forest tree breeding, pest and disease management, and sustainable forestry research aimed at strengthening institutional linkages and addressing emerging challenges in forest and agricultural production systems. Dr. Agena emphasized that his previous affiliation with Arba Minch University provides a strong foundation for strengthening long-term institutional partnerships between AMU and the two institutes.
Professor Bernard Slippers (PhD), Director of the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) at the University of Pretoria, South Africa, said that FABI has been primarily working on acacia and eucalyptus and is keen to expand its expertise by building on the strong foundation at AMU in areas such as moringa, enset, and pest and pathogen management through long-term and sustainable institutional partnerships. Looking ahead, he noted that, building on the existing linkages established by Dr. Agena, agroforestry, digitization through sensor technologies, data management, maize and enset research, as well as pest and disease management, offer fertile ground for future collaborative research and capacity-building initiatives.
Professor Ilaria Germishuizen, Research Director at the Institute for Commercial Forestry Research (ICFR) in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, stated that ICFR is an applied forestry research organization based at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, with a strong focus on forest protection against pests and pathogens, tree breeding, particularly wattle and eucalyptus germplasm development, remote sensing, and long-term sustainability under climate change. She noted that the institute operates specialized analytical forestry laboratories that employ both traditional and advanced research approaches and technologies. Recalling ICFR’s previous engagement in Ethiopia, Professor Germishuizen explained that the institute participated in a five-year project funded by the Sustainability Research Cluster (SCR) of Australia’s University of the Sunshine Coast, which introduced wattle and eucalyptus seedlings around the Chencha –Gircha area, where Arba Minch University (AMU) already has established research infrastructure. She added that the current discussion aims to explore opportunities for long-term, sustainable research partnerships in agroforestry solutions, integrated donor-funded initiatives, and the assessment of potential collaborative areas.
Dr. Zenebe Mekonnen, Director of the Gircha Highland Fruits and Vegetables Research Center, noted that the visiting delegation was impressed by the Center’s research capacity and the strong convergence of interests between AMU and the partner institutions. He opted that the introduction of disease-resistant acacia and eucalyptus species would deliver broad community benefits, underscoring the importance of strengthening existing collaborations into long-term partnerships that can empower local farmers through sustainable energy (charcoal) production and strengthened tree value-chain and market systems. Dr. Zenebe further emphasized that such partnerships would enhance the integration of academic programs, research, and community engagement through student and staff exchange opportunities. He also explained that wattle trees, which share legume-like characteristics, are well suited for rehabilitating degraded lands and can be intercropped with other crops without adverse effects. Concluding his remarks, Dr. Zenebe described the discussion as successful, noting that both sides openly shared their institutional capacities and priorities, paving the way for the formal establishment of the partnership.
The discussion highlighted strong mutual interest between AMU and its international partners in establishing long-term, sustainable collaboration in forestry and agroforestry research. Building on existing experience and research infrastructure at the Gircha Highland Research Center, the proposed partnership focuses on capacity building, improved tree breeding, pest and disease management, agroforestry innovation, and community-centered value-chain development. Both sides emphasized the importance of linking academic research with community engagement through joint projects, technology transfer, and student and staff exchange programs to address local energy, climate, and agricultural challenges.
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