Ethiopia’s food systems evolving to realize economy-wide transformation

Addis Ababa, January 31, 2024 (FBC) – Ethiopia’s food systems has been progressing with an eye on realizing an economy-wide transformation, Agriculture Minister Girma Amente said today.

The minister made the remark at a validation workshop for the Ethiopian Food Systems (EFS) Transformation Country Diagnostics Study organized by Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Health, and the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI).

Opening the workshop, Agriculture Minister Girma Amente highlighted the importance of the workshop in facilitating the successful implementation of the food systems roadmap.

The objectives of the workshop were to review and validate results of the study carried out by ATI analytics in collaboration with the 15 EFS member ministries, development partners, and other stakeholders, it was learned.

According to the minister, there is a synergy among the food systems transformation and the 10-year Development Plan and relevant sectoral programs and investment portfolio.

“We will forge ahead for inclusive social, economic, and technological developments and justice for all Ethiopians,” Girma said, adding that “the food systems approach put light on areas of action to remove binding constraints with an eye on realizing our promise of an economy-wide transformation.”

To realize the food systems transformation agenda, Ethiopia has designed food system and nutrition governance and inter-ministerial interim committee consisting of 15 sectoral ministries to lead coordination and ensure policy and operational coherence among development participants.

Ethiopia’s food systems are rapidly evolving, being driven by major contextual changes including high population growth, rapid urbanization, infrastructure investments, and income growth.

Accordingly, these changes are illustrated by dietary, agricultural, and supply chain transformations.

Health State Minister Dereje Duguma said that the workshop is an important event to know the capacities that the sectoral ministries have, the resources needed as well as the gaps, and how to bring more resources to decrease the gaps in terms of financing.

The state minister called upon partners, stakeholders and everyone to bring more resources and efforts in order to realize the nation’s ambition in the sector.

Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) Director-General, Mandefro Nigussie reaffirmed the commitment of the institute to coordinate and conduct extensive studies on Ethiopian food systems transformation.

Established by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the Ethiopian Food Systems Transformation and Nutrition Inter-ministerial Steering Committee (IMSC) comprises 15 ministries co-chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health.

The IMSC was established to coordinate and guide the Ethiopian Food Systems Transformation, Food and Nutrition Platform, and the Seqota Declaration.