Rising the Bar for Ethiopian Honey
who:
The Ethiopian Apiculture Board, Enclude, ProFound and Aspire.
when:
2011-2017
where:
Ethiopia
services:
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
With the intention of accessing the european market, while strengthening the honey sector in Ethiopia, a consortium was born: The Ethiopian Apiculture Board, Enclude, ProFound and Aspire came together to strengthen the capacity of smallholder beekeepers and their cooperatives in Ethiopia.
We had the intention of increasing the income of at least 30,000 smallholder beekeepers and their families.Â
When the project began, honey from Ethiopia did not have much reputation in the international honey market. Looking closer into the sector, it was evident that the quality was far from reaching acceptable standards. Additionally, the lack of organisational structure within honey companies and organisations proved to be a major setback in efforts to expand the market. Â
At the same time, however, honey demand worldwide was rising. More and more, people began to see honey as a healthy sugar substitute, but the supply was decreasing. This was primarily due to the decline in the global bee population, which resulted in an insufficient amount of honey to meet the growing demand.
How could Ethiopia access this demanding market?
Our History with Honey in Ethiopia
2011-2013
Launch of ASPIRE programme in Ethiopia
ProFound introduces a 4-step program to facilitate market access for Ethiopian companies through the ASPIRE project, funded by the Dutch embassy in Ethiopia.
2014
Market Entry for Ethiopian Honey ProcessorsÂ
ProFound brings eight Ethiopian honey processors to BioFach 2015—three for market exploration and five to showcase their products at the Ethiopia Pavilion, now the Organic Africa Pavilion.
2015
Ethiopian Honey Processors Prepare Orders.
With new exporters joining the sector, ProFound supports efforts to improve quality management, helping processors share best practices to meet European honey standards.
2016
Making high-quality Products for Europe
Market Entry Experts at ProFound train Ethiopian producers on international quality standards and Food Safety Management, including HACCP and certification options.
2017
Ethiopian Organic Honey & Beeswax enter European Market.
Ethiopian honey processors are achieving key milestones, including organic certification, equipment upgrades, and packaging solutions. COMEL, Yerkisho, and Zembaba Union export their first containers of organic honey to Europe.
There was good interest in Ethiopian products, Ethiopia was new, it was exciting to see an Ethiopia Pavilion. Exhibitors learnt a lot about what the market required and how to present themselves a that provided the basis for the OAP.
.
Results
Beekeeping provides a  source of additional income for farmers in Ethiopia, especially in rural areas where opportunities are limited. In this region, farmers can integrate honey production with other agricultural activities, such as coffee production, which can then eventually  create a diversified income stream.
Ethiopia’s wild areas, including forests and drylands, also play a crucial role in honey production: by allowing bees to forage in these ecosystems, communities are encouraged to protect these natural resources.
At ProFound, we believe that building local capacities, can help farmers and entrepreneurs produce sustainable, organic-certified honey for international markets.
The impact can be far-reaching:
- Higher incomes for a broad group of beekeepers.
- Increased earnings for honey exporters.
- Greater awareness of organic agriculture in Ethiopia and recognition of its value across Europe.
Honey Processors Supported
Many businessmen and women recognise the opportunities in this sector. ProFound supports these entrepreneurs to develop their businesses by providing essential services: market analysis, analyses of capacities and strategic planning.
Sustainable Value Chains Developed
ProFound developed sustainable value chains for organic honey with seven Ethiopian entrepreneurs who are processing and marketing honey.
Curious to learn more about our work in the honey sector Ethiopia?
Read our latest blog!
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