Potato and sweet potato are increasingly recognized as strategic crops in Ethiopia, with strong potential to improve food and nutrition security, diversify diets, generate employment and raise farmers’ incomes. With their high yield potential, relatively short growing cycles and diverse uses, these crops can contribute to a more resilient food system while creating opportunities for growth across the agricultural value chain in the country.
Recognizing this potential, Ethiopia has set ambitious objectives for the sector through its National Potato and Sweet Potato Development Strategy 2024–2030. The Strategy aims to increase productivity, strengthen market linkages and support the transition towards a more competitive, market‑oriented and commercially driven sector. Achieving these goals requires an enabling environment with appropriate policies, effective institutions, improved production systems, access to quality inputs, efficient markets and stronger linkages among value‑chain actors.
The Netherlands, internationally recognized for its expertise in potato production, seed systems, breeding, storage, processing and value‑chain development, has valuable knowledge and technologies that can complement Ethiopia’s efforts. Dutch knowledge and expertise is being shared in Ethiopia through various programs and the engagement of the private sector. These programs are a witness that connecting Dutch expertise with Ethiopia’s growing potato sector offers opportunities to address local challenges, strengthen the value chain and develop mutually beneficial partnerships.
To further support the advancement of the Potato sector, the Agricultural Team of the Netherlands Embassy in Addis Ababa has been engaging Dutch and Ethiopian stakeholders through the Dutch Diamond approach, bringing together government, private sector, knowledge institutions and civil society to support the development of Ethiopia’s potato sector. As part of this effort, and with support from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and SeedNL, the team hosted a Dutch Potato Sector Fact‑Finding Mission from 5 to 8 October 2026. The mission brought together eight Dutch organizations to gain first‑hand insight into Ethiopia’s potato sector, explore its opportunities and challenges, and identify areas for collaboration between Dutch and Ethiopian stakeholders.
During the mission, Dutch businesses and sector experts engaged directly with Ethiopian stakeholders across the potato value chain to gain a better understanding of the local market and the current state of the sector. The discussions were focused on how Dutch knowledge, technologies and experience could help address local needs and support the sector’s development, while creating opportunities for practical business partnerships between the two countries.
You can watch the video for an impression of the Dutch Potato Sector Fact-Finding Mission in Ethiopia.
Preparation for a focused and results-oriented mission
During the preparation phase, the Agricultural Team, in close collaboration with SeedNL, developed a targeted program focused on achieving practical results. Through regular meetings and consultations with the participating companies, the team mapped their expectations, priorities and areas of interest and aligned these with realities on the ground and with the needs and opportunities in Ethiopia’s potato sector. The objective was to ensure that the program reflected both the interests of the participating companies and current state and context of the sector.
Preparations involved engaging Ethiopian stakeholders from federal and regional authorities, development partners, input suppliers, producers and private companies, to brief them on the upcoming mission and clarify their roles. The detailed preparation helped establish a well‑structured program, facilitate targeted matchmaking, relevant visits and ensure meaningful engagement with relevant local stakeholders. It enabled the mission participants to explore potential partnerships and identify practical ways to contribute to the sector’s development.
Setting the scene: Understanding Ethiopia’s potato sector
The mission started with a kick-off session that provided participants with an overview of Ethiopia’s potato sector strategy and priorities, the certification and regulatory framework, and ongoing research and innovation activities in the country presented by the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture, Ethiopian Agriculture Authority and Research Institute. This helped the participating Dutch companies gain a better understanding of Ethiopia’s regulatory requirements for the potato sector, including import and export procedures, quality control standards, and the certifications required to operate in the market. A panel discussion gave further insight into how private actors in the Ethiopian potato sector see its current opportunities and challenges.
Marketplace: Pitches and discussions with key sector organizations
The tailored sessions formed a central pillar of the mission, creating opportunities for knowledge exchange, networking, and exploring potential partnerships. The program featured a short pitch by organizations actively working in Ethiopia’s potato sector, highlighting their ongoing activities, experiences, and contributions to sector development. This session provided the Dutch delegation with valuable insights into the work already underway, existing initiatives, and the needs and opportunities across the sector.
The pitch were followed by a marketplace session, where participating Dutch companies and Ethiopian organizations had the opportunity to connect directly, exchange information, and discuss areas of mutual interest in depth. These interactive discussions allowed participants to share their expertise, learn more about each other’s activities and capabilities, and explore practical opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing. By bringing stakeholders together in an open and engaging setting, the sessions helped strengthen connections between Dutch and Ethiopian organizations.
From sector understanding to company engagement
The mission combined an introduction to the sector with direct engagement through field visits and meetings with key stakeholders, allowing participants to gain first-hand insights into the realities, technical needs, and challenges facing Ethiopia’s potato sector. The delegation visited wholesale and retail markets for potato, the Holeta Agricultural Research Institute and Loli Chips processing facility during their stay. They also visited project sites supported by the Embassy of the Netherlands, meeting seed potato cooperatives, seed potato producers, and farmers involved in programs supported by SNV | Horti-LIFE III, Agriterra, and the Ethiopian Seed Partnership Plus (ESP+).
These visits highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen different parts of the potato value chain, from improving access to quality seed potatoes and increasing production and productivity through farmer training and Farmer Field Schools under SNV HortiLife III, to strengthening farmer organizations and cooperatives, improving their business performance, and building market linkages through Agriterra’s work. The delegation also gained insights into ESP+’s efforts to strengthen the seed sector and improve the availability and quality of seed potatoes.
By observing these initiatives and activities on the ground and speaking directly with the organizations and farmers involved, the Dutch delegation indicated during the mission evaluation session that they have gained a clearer picture of the progress already made, the challenges that remain, and the opportunities to build on existing work. It was clear from the discussions held at the end of the mission that the potato seed sector offers significant opportunities for engagement and value addition for the majority of the mission participants.
Looking ahead: supporting concrete follow-up
Following the mission, LAN Addis team will continue working closely with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and SeedNL to support the companies that participated in the mission in translating the insights gained into concrete next steps. Particular attention will be given to identifying relevant support instruments for organizations interested in pursuing pilot activities, demonstration projects, and feasibility studies to test their solutions and assess potential partnerships in the Ethiopian market.
To guide this process, LAN Addis will organize a follow-up online session with the participating companies, as well as other interested companies that were unable to join the mission due to prior commitments. The session will provide an opportunity to review the mission’s outcomes, share key lessons and insights, discuss progress in connecting Dutch companies with relevant local partners, and identify concrete next steps and areas where further support may be needed.
More information
If you would like to know more about the potato sector in Ethiopia or are interested in working together to help develop the sector, you can contact the LAN team in Addis Ababa via: add-lvvn@minbuza.nl.