BOOSTER project advances tef drought resilience

Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) in collaboration with international partners, hosted a series of critical meetings in September and October 2024 to review progress and strategize for future activities.

On September 26 and 31, 2024, presentations and discussions were held at the EIAR Headquarters and in Bishoftu. The meetings focused on the project’s objectives and its innovative approaches to improving tef’s resilience to drought conditions. Senior officials from the EIAR, representatives from the Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute, and researchers from EIAR participated in the event. During the sessions, the project team provided updates on work packages WP1 and WP3, highlighted the challenges encountered so far, and outlined the roadmap for the coming months.

Further engagement occurred on October 18, 2024, at the Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center, where seed quality inspectors from West Oromia and representatives from private seed companies gathered to discuss the project’s impact on the seed sector. A presentation showcased the ongoing tef drought tolerance experiments and their expected outcomes. Participants also had the opportunity to tour the greenhouse, where they observed trials involving bacterial isolates from the University of Cape Town being tested to improve tef’s drought tolerance.

These meetings reflect the BOOSTER project’s commitment to advancing agricultural innovations for Ethiopia, with a particular focus on tef, one of the country’s most important staple crops. By integrating genomics and microbial solutions, the project continues to work towards enhancing food security and sustainability in drought-prone regions.