Arba Minch University (AMU) warmly welcomed and honored its distinguished researcher and innovator, Dr. Addisu Fekadu, on October 24, 2026, following his receipt of the FAO Achievement Award 2026. The award recognizes his innovative contributions to transforming enset processing through research and innovation at AMU. His achievement demonstrates the role of research and innovation in addressing practical challenges, improving livelihoods, strengthening food security, and promoting sustainable development. Click here to see more photos.
In his opening remarks at the recognition ceremony, Dr. Eng. Abdella Kemal, President of AMU, highlighted enset’s vital role in ensuring food security for millions of Ethiopians, while noting that traditional processing and fermentation methods are labor-intensive and time-consuming. He credited Dr. Addisu Fekadu’s years of biotechnological research and innovative technologies with making these processes more efficient, reducing food losses, and offering practical, sustainable solutions to ease the physical burden on women, who play a major role in enset processing. He added that recognizing such achievements would inspire and motivate other scholars to pursue impactful research and innovation across various fields.
AMU Vice President for Research and Cooperation, Dr. Teklu Wegayehu, referred to Dr. Addisu Fekadu as the “Father of Enset” acknowledging the national and international recognitions he has received for his outstanding enset research, innovative technologies, and contributions to job creation. He noted that enset, a drought-resistant, evergreen crop and a staple food for more than 20 million Ethiopians, has benefited from Dr. Addisu’s innovations, which have reduced fermentation time, labor requirements, and food losses while creating new opportunities for farmers, particularly women and youth. He emphasized that this international recognition reflects AMU’s commitment to research excellence, innovation, food security, and sustainable development, as well as its role in generating practical, research-based solutions that benefit communities and advance national development priorities. He concluded by expressing the hope that AMU would produce many more researchers like Dr. Addisu.
In his remarks, the award recipient, Dr. Addisu Fekadu, expressed his sincere gratitude to the AMU’s leadership and community for the warm welcome and recognition ceremony organized in his honor. He described the FAO Achievement Award 2026 as a source of pride not only for himself but also for AMU and the nation, extending his appreciation to his research team, which had worked alongside him for years, and to the partner institutions that contributed to this achievement. He emphasized that the award marks an important milestone, bringing greater international attention to enset’s vital role in food security while opening doors to new opportunities. Reflecting on the years of dedication, persistent effort, and challenges behind the achievement, he noted that the recognition would further motivate him to pursue more impactful and advanced research and innovation in the enset sector.
Deans, researchers, and invited guests who attended the recognition ceremony shared reflections on Dr. Addisu Fekadu’s character and research journey. Senior university officials, scientific directors, college deans, faculty members, and Gamo elders also attended the event to warmly welcome and honor the young scientist, who received the FAO Achievement Award 2026 in Rome, Italy.
At the conclusion of the program, Dr. Eng. Abdella Kemal, President of the University, presented AMU’s special “Crystal Award” to Dr. Addisu in recognition of the international scientific acclaim he has brought to the University and the nation.
Arba Minch University extends its heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Addisu Fekadu, his research team, partner institutions, and enset-growing communities whose collaborative efforts continue to translate scientific knowledge into meaningful impact. The University reaffirms its commitment to advancing research and innovation that address societal challenges, strengthen food security, and promote sustainable development.
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