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From May 29 to 30, 2025, EIAR, Addis Abeba
The crop science society of Ethiopia is a professional society with more than 700 members. The society has been contributing to the transformation of Ethiopian agriculture through innovations with its committed and actively engaged professionals working at the research and higher learning institutions including other developmental organizations. The society has been undertaking biennial conference with the aim of creating platforms to discuss on the critical impediments of the sector and share new developments in crops research and development endeavors. The 20th biennial conference organized under the theme of “Innovative Strategies for Sustainable Agricultural Transformation to enhance Crop Productivity and Addressing Future Challenges in Ethiopia”. The theme was chosen with the view of ensuring sustainability and nutritional security while transforming the Ethiopian agriculture, said Dr Taye Tadesse, president of the society. The conference was held at the EIAR, headquarter from May 29 to 30, 2025.
In his opening speech, H.E Dr Meles Mekonnen, state minister of the MOA, indicated that the Ethiopian government endeavoring to transform the sector and boost crop production and productivity. He affirmed that, hitherto, astounding achievements have been registered through the different initiatives’ and programs. He underlined that the contribution of agricultural professionals working across the different institutions was immense and acknowledged for their commitments made so far. He also added that reinvigorating the professional contribution is vital to unlock the potential of the country through innovation and integrated efforts among all actors in the sector to scale up the improved technologies for wider impact. The keynote speech was delivered by H.E Prof Nigussie Dechassa, DDG of EIAR. In his speech, he reiterated the progress made through research in technology generation and reaching out to the farming communities. He emphasized the need for increasing investment on research and development to utilize the untapped potential of the country, while safeguarding the environment and the natural resources for sustainable agricultural production.
In this conference more than 200 members of the crop science society, invited senior researchers and University lecturers were attended. In the two days deliberations panel discussions on the current issues in relation to the theme was held and selected papers on crop improvement, crop management, plant protection, horticulture, biotechnology, food science, post-harvest, agro-economics, extension and crop modeling and GIS were presented and discussed. In the panel discussion leading papers were presented on irrigated agriculture focusing on wheat by Mr Esayas Lema from the MOA, regenerative agriculture by Dr Fentahun Mengistu from SSA, Digital agriculture by Dr Girum Ketema from ATI, food system by Dr Namukolo Covic from ILRI, predictive agriculture by Dr Gizaw Desta from ICRISAT and emerging pest by Dr Firdu Azerefegn from Hawassa University. Dr Taye Tadesse indicated in his final remark that the outcome of the panel discussion will be communicated to the relevant actors as policy brief and selected qualified papers will be published in the upcoming issues of the crop science society journal.
