Ethiopia Shows the World How Traceability Can Protect Forests - and the future of Coffee
In an era where global buyers and consumers demand proof, not promises, of deforestation-free supply chains, Ethiopia has moved forward decisively - its most iconic export now carries a digital footprint.
On October 28, 2025, government leaders, exporters, and international buyers gathered in Addis Ababa for a milestone moment: the validation workshop of the Ethiopian Coffee Traceability Management System (ECTMS).
Developed by the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA) and the GIZ-implemented SUVASE project, with technical development from Vulcan ICT. And it comes at exactly the right moment: EU deforestation regulations and global sustainability expectations are reshaping international trade.
From production to export- full traceability of Ethiopian coffee
To access the EU market, operators must prove that their products do not contribute to deforestation. Without such proof, key markets may be lost. The new system enables full traceability from the farm to the export gate. Using a mobile app, every coffee farm can be geolocated and assessed for potential deforestation risk.
Earlier this month, ECTMS was tested under real-world conditions in the Sidama region, one of Ethiopia’s coffee heartlands - and it worked.
Months of work – and a successful practical test
The system enables the collection of geodata from coffee farms via an app, the documentation of goods flows, and a risk analysis of cultivation areas with regard to the potential risk of deforestation. This gives Ethiopia not only a user-friendly digital management system for its coffee supply chains, but also helps importers obtain the information they need to provide to sell coffee on the EU market.
At the workshop, ECTA Director General Dr. Adugna Debela emphasized how essential trustworthy traceability has become for Ethiopia’s competitiveness - and how ECTMS provides exactly that trust mechanism.
“We are committed to leveraging technology to enhance traceability and sustainability in the Ethiopian coffee sector, ensuring better market access and increased revenue for our farmers,” said Mrs. Hawi Atomsa, ITC Executive Director and project coordinator at ECTA.
For Vulcan ICT, the Ethiopian software company behind the platform, this is also a national tech milestone. “We are proud to have developed ECTMS - transforming Ethiopia’s coffee supply chain through digital traceability and empowering the sector to meet global standards with confidence,” noted General Manager Henok Alemayehu.
Looking Ahead
As governments worldwide tighten regulations against deforestation, Ethiopia is demonstrating what progress can look like when policy, technology, and producers work hand in hand. Traceability is a tool that protects forests, empowers people, and makes quality visible.