Strengthening Analytical Capacity for Sustainable Agriculture
22.04.2026
The ETH-Soil project is advancing laboratory capabilities in Ethiopia through strategic investments in modern analytical equipment. ETH-Soil project partners Jimma University College for Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine and IQQO Batu Soil Research Center both are experienced institutes for soil research. This expertise is now being strengthened through the provision of high-precision analytical equipment. After a successfully finalized European tender process, analytical equipment for quality assurance of biochar-based fertilisers has been purchased in 2025 and 2026 purchased. In August 2025, DBFZ experts verified successful completion of installation prerequisites to enable seamless installation at Soil Research Centre Batu and the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at Jimma University.
In the last months, the equipment has been sent to the partners in Ethiopia, including:
- automatic systems to analyse the important nutrient nitrogen in biofertilizers and soils according to Kjeldahl,
- CHN-analyser to determine soil organic carbon increase based on biochar application as indicator for soil improvement and carbon sequestration, as well as
- ICP-OES equipment for the quantification of e.g. heavy metal content as important quality assurance measure for biochar.
The majority of the devices are already installed and in operation with dedicated lab staff trained on the new devices. Implementation into routine measurement will be accompanied by a trouble-shooting training to further reinforce technical capacity and ensure long-term functionality and reliability.
Going forward, both institutes will be able to provide analytical services for producers of biochar and organic fertilizers. This is a key step toward fostering a robust and trustworthy biofertilizer market in Oromia. With mineral oil prices once again skyrocketing, this will contribute directly to Ethiopia’s food security and resilience.
Photos: Jimma University