ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – The Bosch Group has hosted the first International Coffee Processing and Packaging Round Table in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The event featured representatives from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), industrial and agricultural institutions, big business, SMEs, farmers, and civil society as well as local and international aid agencies in a bid to enhance food security.
Discussions focused on increasing localisation to enhance food security in the region while looking to improve the quality of life for citizens through stimulating economic growth in a key sector. One in five Ethiopians is currently involved in the coffee industry.
The forum was held during the 3rd Annual Addis Agrofood Exhibition on 27–29 November and was hosted by Bosch Packaging Technology.
Topics covered at the event included ways to develop coffee processing and packaging adequate for domestic, egional, and export retail markets.
The forum also examined the latest technology for roasting as well as for coffee growers, and technical solutions for advanced packaging.
Dr Markus Thill, president of Bosch Africa, said the company’s “robust, long-lasting, easy-to-use and… low energy consumption” machines enable it, together with key stakeholders, to “assist and support the development of the coffee sector in Ethiopia”.
Ethiopia is the world’s sixthlargest coffee producer, exporting over 150,000 tons a year. But as the country exports more than 90% of its commodity raw, unrefined, unprocessed and unpackaged, the overwhelming majority of the profits are generated out of the country.
Bosch Packaging Technology claims to be taking the lead in developing public-private partnerships to create an enabling environment for entrepreneurs and farmers to actively par-Mass Food Group has grown rapidly over the last 20 years ticipate in the industry through processing, roasting, manufacturing, packaging, and even distributing raw coffee.
Vandan Rughani, managing director of Bosch East Africa, said the company believes “technology is the best way that the coffee industry can move up the value chain in Ethiopia and compete globally”.
“This is why UNIDO works with companies like Bosch to make this a reality,” he said. Bosch said it views this initiative as crucial to the progress of the African continent both in terms of economic development and sustainability as well as enhancing food security.
