Ethiopia Charts National Path for Spirulina Sector at High-Level Policy and Business Workshop
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, October 15, 2026 – The YADAM Foundation convened a high-level policy and business workshop in Addis Ababa. Participants concluded that Ethiopia has the natural resources, scientific evidence and institutional momentum to become a continental leader in spirulina production, but that the country must act quickly to coordinate standards, research and investment.
The workshop brought together researchers, policymakers, private-sector representatives and development partners to define a unified path for the country’s emerging spirulina value chain. Participants described Ethiopia as standing at a critical juncture. They pointed to the Rift Valley soda lakes, including Lake Chitu, which host indigenous, fast-growing Limnospira fusiformis strains that give the country a distinctive natural advantage worldwide.
Research presented at the event showed that locally isolated strains grow at exceptional rates. It also showed that cultivation in soda-lake water with minimal supplementation can sharply reduce production costs, which would make Ethiopian production both competitive and sustainable.
At the close of the workshop, participants agreed to establish a formal national coordinating Technical Advisory Group and a broader multi-stakeholder Forum with the YADAM Foundation and UNICEF serving as the convening hub. Participants also reached strong consensus on the need to strengthen the country’s regulatory and certification capacity. The Ethiopian Food and Drug Authority committed to supporting product registration. Participants also called for stronger laboratory capacity through a proposed Center of Excellence, to ensure food safety, detect counterfeit products and set rigorous quality standards.
The workshop called for a shift from fragmented, siloed efforts toward institutionalization. Participants proposed that the Center of Excellence be established in memory of the late Dr. Amha Belay, a globally renowned pioneer in microalgae biotechnology and commercial spirulina.
On policy, participants called for spirulina to be integrated into national nutrition programs, including school feeding and early childhood nutrition initiatives. They emphasized the need to map all stakeholders, develop terms of reference for the Technical Working Group, and create a roadmap informed by international experience. Key government ministries, including the Ministry of Trade and Industry, were identified as critical partners for the next phase.
In his closing remarks, H.E. Demeke Mekonen, Founder and Chairperson of the YADAM Foundation, reaffirmed his full commitment to advancing the initiative. He said that transforming Ethiopia’s food and nutrition system requires bold, evidence-based action. He described spirulina as a transformative supplement with the potential to combat malnutrition, reduce import dependency, create jobs and generate economic gains.
