ETH Soil Project

“Soil improvement in Ethiopia through the energetic and material use of agricultural residues improving soil fertility through (ETH-Soil)”.

This project aims to improve food security in the Oromia region of Ethiopia through the use of biofertilisers generated from pyrolysis and biogas technologies. By enhancing soil health and fertility, it targets the region’s small and micro farmers, who often face food insecurity. The broader objectives are aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and focus on three major challenges:

1. Combating Hunger: Tapping into untapped agricultural and social potential to increase food production.
2. Sustainable Resource Management: Applying biofertilisers to restore degraded soils and promote environmentally sound farming practices.
3. Education and Training: Empowering local communities through vocational training, contributing to economic, social, and technical advancements.

The project leverages the prior efforts of institutions like KfW and GIZ, ensuring knowledge transfer through established educational frameworks. The involvement of DBFZ, a German research institute under the BMEL, provides expertise and technological knowledge to further strengthen the project’s impact in Ethiopia and potentially across Africa.

The initiative, running from 2021 to 2026, prioritizes sustainable development by combining agricultural innovation, environmental stewardship, and human capacity building for lasting results.

Implementation of the project in Jimma Institute of Technology

1. Launching Advanced Biogas and Biomass Technology Specialization stream by revising the existing MSc Sustainable Energy Engineering Program curriculum
2. Full scholarship for 12 candidates in MSc Sustainable Energy Engineering Program Specialization stream of Advanced Biogas and Biomass Technology
3. Construction of access road to the biogas plan and biogas laboratory construction site in JiT Campus
4. Construction of large scale modern Biogas plant as a research/training and demonstration site for future expansion of the technology
5. Biogas training facilities/ Biogas laboratories with a solar PV power supply system for research and training purpose