German multinational business solutions company Bosch hosted the first International Coffee Processing and Packaging roundtable, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in November.

The roundtable featured representatives from the United Nations (UN’s) Industrial Development Organisation (Unido), several industrial and agricultural institutions, big business, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), farmers and civil society, as well as local and international aid agencies in a strategic bid to enhance food security.

The discussion focused on ways to increase localisation to enhance food security in the region while looking to improve the quality of life for citizens by stimulating economic growth in one of the country’s key sectors.

Further, it brought together stakeholders in a first step towards increasing local value addition and industrialisation.

Ethiopia is believed to be the birthplace of coffee, with one in every five citizens presently involved in the industry.

Among the topics discussed included ways to increase coffee processing and packaging that are adequate for domestic, regional and export retail markets.

Other items discussed at the exhibition included the latest technology for roasting and for coffee growers, and technical solutions for advanced packaging.

Bosch Packaging Technology has about 130 000 energy efficient packaging machines installed and is running in 13 000 factories worldwide. It has a presence in 170 countries and its portfolio includes 250 different machine types in 40 sectors.

Its culture of doing business ‘with a conscience’ led to the company’s involvement in the UN’s ‘Save Food’ initiative, which it has been involved in since 2011. The programme aims to find solutions to global food losses and waste and ensure less food is lost en route to customers and by customers themselves.

Bosch Africa president Dr Markus Thill says, in 2013, Bosch Packaging Technology received 77 000 global orders.

“As part of Bosch Group, we offer best-in-class technologies that are ‘invented for life’ in the truest sense. Our machines, solutions and services provide vital support for human health and nutrition, especially in emerging markets such as those in Africa.”

He adds that the company’s machines are robust, long lasting, easy to use and boast low energy consumption. Bosch, therefore, believes that it, together with key stakeholders, can assist and support the development of the coffee sector in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is a major player in the coffee market. It is currently the sixth-largest producer in the world, exporting more than 150 000 t of coffee a year.

However, the country exports more than 90% of its raw commodity – thus, it is unrefined, unprocessed and unpackaged. This means that the most of the profits are generated out of the country.

Bosch Packaging Technology is taking the lead in developing public–private partnerships to create an enabling environment for entrepreneurs and farmers to actively participate in the industry through processing, roasting, manufacturing, packaging and distributing raw coffee.

“We believe that technology is the best way that the coffee industry can move up the value chain in Ethiopia and compete globally. This is why Unido works with companies like Bosch to make this a reality. Bosch views this initiative as crucial to the progress of the African continent, both in terms of economic development and sustainability, as well as enhancing food security,” says Bosch East Africa MD Vandan Rughani.

He says that the roundtable was merely the first step to ensure Ethiopia maximises the country’s coffee resources for greater socioeconomic development.

“Agriculture accounts for almost half of the country’s gross domestic product. In addition, Ethiopia is one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies and now is the time for it to stimulate its micro- and macro- economies, which will benefit all its people.”