Participants of the Ethiopia Fertilizer and Soil Health Roadmap launch gather for a group photo following the official inauguration ceremony in Addis Ababa (Photo: CIMMYT).

Ethiopia has taken a major step toward restoring soil health and strengthening national food security with the launch of its Fertilizer and Soil Health Roadmap, developed by the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) in partnership with CIMMYT and other key stakeholders. 

The Roadmap provides a comprehensive strategic framework to address soil degradation, promote balanced nutrient management, improve fertilizer use-efficiency, and guide targeted investments aimed at restoring  productivity and resilience across Ethiopia’s agricultural landscapes. 

“Soil health is the foundation of Ethiopia’s food systems and rural economy,” said H.E. Prof. Eyasu Elias, State Minister at the Ministry of  Agriculture during the launch ceremony. “This Road Map provides a coordinated national framework to rehabilitate degraded soils, improve fertilizer management, and ensure sustainable agricultural growth for future generations.” 

Addressing a critical national challenge 

Soil degradation remains one of the most pressing constraints to agricultural productivity in Ethiopia. An estimated 41% of cultivated land is affected by soil acidity, alongside widespread nutrient depletion, land degradation, alkalinity, sodicity, and declining organic matter. These challenges are further compounded by climate change, unsustainable land management practices, and the limited adoption of improved soil management technologies. 

The economic consequences are significant. Ethiopia is estimated to lose between USD 1 billion and USD 4.3 billion annually in agricultural production and ecosystem services due to soil degradation. In the highlands alone, annual grain losses are estimated at 1.5 million tons, equivalent to approximately 2% to 6.75% of the national agricultural GDP.

Panelists speak at the launch of Ethiopia’s Fertilizer and Soil Health Roadmap (Photo: CIMMYT).

“These constraints undermine our national efforts to increase productivity, ensure food and nutrition security, and build climate-resilient farming systems,” the state minister added. “Through this partnership with CIMMYT and other stakeholders, we are strengthening our institutional capacity and mobilizing investments to reverse soil degradation at scale.” 

Evidence-based solutions and strengthened soil information systems 

The Fertilizer and Soil Health Roadmap focus on five priority areas: 

Policy and regulatory reform 

Research and innovation 

Soil information systems and institutional capacity building 

A central pillar of the Roadmap is the strengthening of Ethiopia’s National Soil Information System (NSIS) to support evidence-based decision-making and targeted interventions. In this regard, CIMMYT has made significant technical contributions, including generating evidence-based recommendations for managing acid soils and developing decision-support tools integrated into the NSIS platform. These tools enable site-specific nutrient management, improve fertilizer use efficiency, and support more targeted and sustainable soil health interventions across the country. 

Panelists speak at the launch of Ethiopia’s Fertilizer and Soil Health Roadmap (Photo: CIMMYT).

“Through this partnership, we seek to unlock the full potential of Ethiopia’s soils as the foundation for sustainable food systems and national development in Ethiopia” said Tesfaye Shiferaw, CIMMYT scientist and systems agronomist. “Transforming soil health and fertilizer use is central to driving sustainable agriculture, enhancing food security, and building climate resilience.”  

Aligning national and continental ambitions 

The initiative is strategically aligned with Ethiopia’s national development priorities and the African Union’s Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan, endorsed by AU Member States in 2024 in Nairobi, Kenya, and reinforced through the Nairobi Declaration on Fertilizer and Soil Health. 

“The Road Map reflects Ethiopia’s strong commitment to continental goals and to restoring the productivity of our soils,” Lire Abiyo, Soil Health Lead Executive Officer at the MoA, noted. “Healthy soils are not only an agricultural priority, they are a national development priority.” 

With the official launch completed, the Government of Ethiopia and its partners are now advancing implementation and promoting coordinated action to accelerate soil restoration, enhance fertilizer use efficiency, and unlock Ethiopia’s agricultural potential.