Arba Minch University (AMU), hosted the Second International Enset Symposium under the theme "Towards Global Food and Nutrition Security" from October 11-12, 2024.Click here to see more photos.
The symposium showcased 7 oral presentations, 6 posters, and an exhibition of enset-based food and non-food products.
Dr. Damtew Darza, President of AMU, in his opening remark underscored the essential role of higher education institutions in driving national and international development. He highlighted AMU's pioneering work in Enset research, focusing on improving productivity and modernizing food processing to enhance food quality and contribute to food security and economic development. He emphasized the university's commitment to expanding collaborations with partners to scale these innovations.
Behailu Merdekios, Vice President for Research and Cooperation at AMU, highlighted the university's decade-long commitment to Enset research. He emphasized the crop's multipurpose nature and its critical role in food security, detailing AMU’s efforts in adapting enset for lowland areas, developing disease-free seedlings, and ensuring that research benefits marginalized groups, including women, youth, and people with disabilities. AMU also focuses on producing value-added enset products, promoting its cultivation in other African countries, and exploring innovative uses for enset fibers. The university has distributed enset technologies to over 32 locations in collaboration with various stakeholders, the VP explained.
Dr. Habtamu Abera, CEO of National Research and Development at the Ministry of Innovation and Technology (MiNT), emphasized the ministry's nationwide Research Development initiatives, which involve defining research priorities, fostering collaboration, and promoting innovation through funding and support. These efforts aim to drive economic growth and scientific excellence. MiNT also supports several research projects aligned with the country's development needs. Notably, the ministry is working with Arba Minch University (AMU) to scale up Enset processing technologies, helping create job opportunities and promote sustainable development.
Professor Milikias Endale from the Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI), in his keynote speech, emphasized the critical role of research and development (R&D) for sustainable development and the necessity of investing in this area. He focused on the medicinal value and nutritional benefits of enset, advocating for more research to identify Enset varieties with medicinal properties. Additionally, he shared that AHRI is conducting research on Enset's potential in treating orthopedic or bone-related conditions, and he invited Arba Minch University (AMU) to collaborate in this research endeavor.
Dr. Addisu Fekadu, Enset Project Coordinator and Biotechnology Researcher at Arba Minch University, announced that the university's Enset initiatives have now expanded beyond research and innovation to make a tangible impact on society. In collaboration with various partner organizations, the university has successfully delivered Enset processing technologies to 32 Enset-producing regions. This year, job opportunities have been created in the production of these technologies, value-added Enset foods, and non-food products made from Enset fiber, benefiting over 4,200 young people. Dr. Addisu emphasized that AMU and its partners will continue to scale these efforts to further support youth, women, and marginalized communities.
On the second day of the symposium, participants, including AMU President Dr. Damtew Darza, visited various Enset research fields, seedling propagation stations, modern Enset processing centers, Enset species conservation initiatives, and associations producing a range of products from Enset fiber. Guests of the event expressed their appreciation for AMU's game-changing efforts in Enset research and innovation, praising the university's impact on communities. Several attendees pledged to collaborate with AMU to further advance these initiatives and broaden their impact.
The symposium is sponsored by several prominent organizations, including AMU, the Ministry of Innovation and Technology, USAID - Feed the Future Ethiopia Transforming Agriculture, the Bio and Emerging Technology Institute, Menschen for menschen, AMU-IUC, Armauer Hansen Research Institute and Ministry of Agriculture.
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