BGI Group Actively Expands into Ethiopia’s Coffee Industry, Advancing the Belt and Road Initiative

On October 14, 2024 (local time), Yin Ye, CEO of BGI Group, led a delegation to visit the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority, where they were warmly received by Adugna Debela, Director General of the Authority. The two sides held in-depth discussions on deepening cooperation in the coffee industry, jointly expressing strong interest in enhancing coffee bean quality through technological means and promoting development across the entire value chain. A series of consensuses were reached. This meeting with the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority marks a new stage in BGI Group’s development within the coffee industry.

Adugna Debela stated that Ethiopia’s coffee industry enjoys a strong global reputation and holds tremendous potential. Ethiopia welcomes capable Chinese enterprises such as BGI to participate in the development of its coffee industry. The Ethiopian government places great importance on coffee sector development and is implementing a range of measures to improve coffee quality and brand recognition in order to maintain competitiveness in the global market.

At the meeting, Yin Ye noted that BGI Group has long been committed to advancing agricultural development through scientific and technological innovation, aiming to create a better life for humanity. At present, BGI has carried out agricultural research and technical services in many countries around the world, accumulating extensive experience. This cooperation with Ethiopia will help address key factors affecting coffee quality and safeguard the brand value and reputation of Ethiopian coffee.

The two sides also conducted in-depth discussions on enhancing the international competitiveness of Ethiopian coffee and increasing exports of raw materials and value-added products. In addition, both parties expressed expectations for creating a favorable legal and policy environment for other Chinese enterprises entering the Ethiopian coffee industry. They agreed that fostering a sound business environment would promote knowledge sharing, technological exchange, and market expansion, thereby bringing more mutually beneficial cooperation opportunities to enterprises in both countries.

After the meeting, Yin Ye led a delegation to visit the headquarters and coffee processing facilities of MIDROC Group, Ethiopia’s largest coffee planting and processing enterprise. The delegation gained an in-depth understanding of the entire coffee production process and quality control system, toured roasting workshops and quality control laboratories, engaged in exchanges, and participated in coffee cupping sessions, conducting comprehensive discussions on coffee production and quality management.

Yin Ye, CEO of BGI Group, leading a visit to MIDROC Group headquarters

As an internationally influential and diversified enterprise in the life sciences sector, BGI Group has long been dedicated to driving agricultural development through technological innovation, actively practicing the concept of sustainable development and contributing to social progress.

As early as 20 years ago, BGI began focusing on Africa-related issues and committed to practical cooperation with African countries through genomic technologies. In 2018, research led by BGI scientists, in collaboration with the African Orphan Crops Consortium (AOCC) and others, published the paper “The Draft Genomes of Five Agriculturally Important African Orphan Crops” in the fully open-access journal GigaScience. By sequencing five African orphan crops—Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea), lablab (Lablab purpureus), apple-ring acacia (Faidherbia albida), marula (Sclerocarya birrea), and moringa (Moringa oleifera)—the study identified genes to improve crop nutrition and yield, laying the foundation for the development of “super crops” and providing important guidance for improving local nutrition and food security and alleviating food shortages.

Five African orphan crops

After years of dedicated work, BGI Group has achieved remarkable results in agricultural technologies such as super species, desert agriculture systems, seed industry innovation, and micro-ecological engineering. Building on this foundation, BGI has continued to expand its technological boundaries and extend its business footprint into the coffee industry—an important strategic move that signifies further deepening and development in the field of agricultural technology.

BGI Group’s “coffee story” began in Ethiopia, a world-renowned golden coffee-growing region. Through direct sourcing and rigorous quality control and authentication, BGI Group ensures the pure lineage and outstanding quality of its coffee beans. Each Arabica bean is carefully selected and custom-roasted to guarantee a 100% authentic flavor profile.

BGI-selected Ethiopian coffee products

Notably, BGI Group fully leverages its expertise in life sciences by using Sanger sequencing to identify coffee bean species, issuing each variety a “plant food-source genetic identity card” to ensure traceability and safety. At the same time, BGI has built a complete industry chain, providing consumers with a comprehensive coffee experience both online and offline.

BGI-certified plant food-source genetic identity card

This cooperation will not only bring consumers Ethiopian coffee with distinctive flavors and excellent quality, but also represents an important initiative by BGI Group to support Ethiopian agricultural development by leveraging its deep expertise in agricultural technology and genomics.

As an active participant in the Belt and Road Initiative, BGI Group will continue to capitalize on its technological strengths in the future, working closely with the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority to apply advanced technologies across the entire coffee value chain—including cultivation, processing, and quality authentication—enhancing industry value, increasing income for local coffee farmers, promoting social stability and harmony, and achieving positive social impact.

This meeting marks a new milestone in bilateral cooperation. BGI Group’s active involvement will inject fresh momentum into the development of Ethiopia’s coffee industry and open a new chapter in agricultural cooperation between China and Ethiopia.

Some content is sourced from the Ethiopian Coffee & Tea Authority Facebook page.