Research: The Tef Project Finds Huge Echo in the Media

Food system needs to be transformed

Plants like dwarf tef or cassava are rich in nutrients and grow even in poor soils. And yet, until now, they have played little role either in research or on the market. This is changing with climate change.

Researchers from the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research and Prof. Tadele visited the Universidad de Valladolid to discuss on the future collaboration with the PROCEREAL group

PROCEREALtech focuses on the physical, chemical, thermal and nutritional properties of cereal-based products, designing foods with beneficial health effects and improving the quality of gluten-free products

Farmers inspecting Bora tef at a recent field day near Debre Zeit. Photographer: Eshetu Alemu.

Tef Improvement Project, TIP is progressing well

In collaboration with the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), the project has so far released three improved tef varieties. We wanted to give smallholders greater choice and develop varieties for a range of growing conditions.

Diversity among farmers’ varieties of tef

Tef Improvement Project in the SFIAR Project Showcase

With a fixed set of questions, this series aims to showcase interesting Swiss projects in Agricultural Research for Development.

Der Molekularbiologe Zerihun Tadele gehört zu den wenigen Teff-Experten weltweit. (Florian Felix Weyh)

Tef - Is the Ethiopian super millet coming to Germany soon?

Undemanding, heat-resistant and rich in vital nutrients: Ethiopia's national grain, tef, could also grow in our country. But Ethiopia is not issuing seeds - because the country has been ripped off with a questionable European bio-patent. (in German)

First improved tef variety reaches Ethiopian smallholders

‘Orphan’ crops suffer from lack of scientific attention. Our support has enabled tef to profit from modern breeding. Farmers are starting to benefit; further improvements should follow

Plant biotechnology as an innovative response to social challenges

Regions with recurring and devastating famines, like Ethiopia, could be supported by plant biotechnology to improve food and nutrition security. Thus, increasing crop productivity through innovative plant breeding technologies would significantly benefit the livelihood of small-scale farmers and consumers in these areas.

Your #FoodHeroes

We all know that without farmers, there would be no food. But not everyone is aware of the role plant scientists play in helping those farmers feed the world.

Flow cytometry for global food security

Prof. Zerihun Tadele is tackling the problems of his fellow countrymen by improving the resistance and yield of plants such as Tef, an Ethiopian dwarf millet.

Big Data

At Bern, Dr. Zerihun is working on food security issues; he is creating a more resilient and productive form of teff, a plant he feels is well suited to the future extreme weather a warming planet will produce.

Tef benefits from further research funding

Our project entails the transfer of knowledge and technology to state and scientific institutions in Ethiopia, as well as on-site training and workshops with specialists. To strengthen the working relationship, the Syngenta Foundation is now providing a further 2.75 million Swiss francs over the next eleven years.

We’re tackling a huge need and a great opportunity. Improving the orphan that feeds Ethiopia

Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture, Review 2014-2015, pp. 30-31

Drought Adaptation in Millets, chapter 26 in "Abiotic and Biotic Stress in Plants - Recent Advances and Future Perspectives"

Millets might provide alternative climate-smart crops, as their adaptations to challenging environment are better than the current major crops of the world.

I am part of it

Zerihun Tadele presents his work on improving tef at the Expo Milano 2015. Feeding the Planet – Energy for life, the central theme of the World Expo covers sustainability, innovation, tradition and technology.

The International Innovation published a brief report and interview about the Tef Improvement Project

Tef talk
In a bid to increase food production in Africa, researchers at the University of Bern in Switzerland are improving cultivars of tef, an indigenous crop that has received little scientific attention until now

Institute of Plant Sciences

Crop Breeding & Genomics

The Tef Project Finds Huge Echo in the Media

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