On 28 September 2026, the Ethiopian Sustainable Food Systems and Agroecology Consortium (ESFSAC), in partnership with PELUM Ethiopia and with financial support from the Global Greengrants Fund and the Agroecology Fund, convened a multi-stakeholder dialogue in Addis Ababa on “Biosafety and Modern Biotechnology: Balancing Innovation, Biodiversity and Food Sovereignty.”
The dialogue brought together diverse stakeholders to explore the opportunities, challenges and governance considerations related to modern biotechnology in Ethiopia, with discussions covering biosafety, biodiversity, food systems, farmers’ rights, seed systems, and Ethiopia’s experiences with GM cotton pre-release research and an example of linking innovation and technology for enset value addition for food sovereignty without compromising diversity.
The dialogue provided an important space for evidence-based information exchange, sharing diverse perspectives and fostered constructive engagement toward strengthening responsible and inclusive approaches to biotechnology use in Ethiopia.
Innovation, biodiversity and food sovereignty are interconnected and meaningful dialogue matters.
