Ethiopia, Japan Launch Partnership to Develop Climate-Resilient Coffee Varieties
#EBR_News Jul 20, 2026
Ethiopia has entered a new international partnership with Japanese research and development institutions to protect the country's unique Arabica coffee genetic resources while accelerating the development of climate-resilient coffee varieties aimed at improving productivity, safeguarding biodiversity and increasing smallholder farmers' incomes.
The initiative brings together the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA), the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Japanese coffee company Key Coffee Inc. under a collaborative programme supporting Ethiopia's long-term coffee development strategy.
The partnership was announced during a press conference held at the Ethiopian Embassy in Tokyo, where officials outlined plans to conserve Ethiopia's natural coffee genetic diversity while applying advanced breeding and research technologies to develop improved varieties capable of withstanding climate change without compromising the distinctive flavor profiles that have made Ethiopian Arabica coffee internationally recognized.
According to experts participating in the initiative, climate-resilient coffee breeding has become a global priority as rising temperatures, pests and plant diseases increasingly threaten coffee production worldwide. However, they noted that efforts to improve resilience must also preserve the flavor and quality characteristics demanded by consumers.
The experts identified Ethiopia's rich Arabica genetic diversity as one of the world's most valuable resources for developing improved coffee varieties that combine climate resilience, disease resistance and premium cup quality.
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