Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute EBI

History and Founding

The Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI) traces its origins to 1976, when a Plant Genetic Resources Center (PGRC/E) was established through a bilateral technical cooperation agreement between the governments of Ethiopia and Germany. Its founding mission was to rescue the country's plant genetic resources from the adverse impacts of human activities and natural calamities. In 1998, the institution was restructured and expanded as the Institute of Biodiversity Conservation and Research (IBCR), broadening its mandate to implement Ethiopia's obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Further amendments in 2004 led to the name Institute of Biodiversity Conservation (IBC), and finally, in 2013, the institution was renamed the Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute under its current structure and mandate.

Collections and Holdings

EBI maintains one of Africa's most significant biodiversity data and specimen collections. Its central gene bank in Addis Ababa stores over 92,000 plant genetic samples. Field gene banks have been established for species not suited to cold storage, including coffee at Choche and Bedessa and medicinal plants at Goba. The Institute operates seven additional biodiversity centers across the country — in Metu, Hawasa, Harar, Mekele, Goba, Bahir Dar, and Assosa — as well as two botanical gardens in Jimma and Shashemene, and a duplicate gene bank in Fiche.

Research Areas and Notable Collections

Ethiopia is recognized globally as a center of genetic diversity for key crops such as teff, noug, and Ethiopian mustard, as well as cereals and legumes. EBI's collections span plant, animal, and microbial genetic resources, alongside associated indigenous knowledge. The Institute conducts research on over 284 mammal species, 861 bird species, and numerous endemic reptile, amphibian, and fish species found in Ethiopia. EBI has published research on biodiversity conservation, access and benefit sharing, and sustainable utilization in partnership with institutions including the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Access and Usage

EBI maintains an online publications database accessible through its official website, where researchers can browse and download biodiversity-related scientific publications. The Institute also provides training, consulting, and project monitoring services. Physical access to gene bank collections is available through formal research partnerships and requests directed to the Institute's headquarters in Addis Ababa.

Mandate and International Engagement

EBI is the Ethiopian government's designated body for implementing international conventions on biodiversity, including the CBD and the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing. It maintains bilateral and multilateral relationships with international biodiversity institutions and periodically publishes National Reports to the CBD on Ethiopia's biodiversity status.