Ethiopia Coffee Variety Development for Modern Coffee Production (Review)

Salasib Atumo

doi:doi:10.11648/j.wjast.20260403.13

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Ethiopia Coffee Variety Development for Modern Coffee Production (Review)

Salasib Atumo^*

Published in World Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology (Volume 4, Issue 3)

Received: 12 May 2026 Accepted: 29 May 2026 Published: 22 July 2026

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Abstract

Coffee plays a significant role in the world economy next to oil. More than 80 countries produce coffee but only 60 developing country including Ethiopia depend on coffee as s major source of their foreign currency earnings. Ethiopia is African’s leading coffee producer and 5th major coffee producing country in the world. However, the production and productivity of coffee are low compared with the major coffee producing countries, this is due to inadequate extension service, limited improved coffee variety and traditional farming practices. Therefore, strategically development and applying coffee breeding principles are significant effects to improve the productivity, quality attribute and disease- pest resistance. However, the breeding methods and their principles are varied from country to country depending on the amount of genetic variability available, ecological conditions and prevailing problems. Even though, well organized documents and data on breeding methods, improved coffee varieties and adaptability of release coffee varieties information’s are limited in Ethiopia. Therefore, the main objective of this review paper is, systematically assesses coffee production system, total improved coffee varieties in Ethiopia through pure line and hybrid breeding methods and their agroecological suitability. The ultimate goal of arabica coffee breeding program in Ethiopia is, to develop new and high yielder, best quality, disease - pest resistance, and adaptable on different agroecology of coffee growing area of the country. Then, coffee berry disease resistance, low and midland targeted, hybrid, highland and landrace are 16, 5, 4, 4 and 12 in number respectively total 41 improved coffee varieties were released. The unique features of these released coffee varieties are high yielder, best quality, disease - pest resistance and adaptable. However, multiplication and distribution of the improved coffee variety to coffee growers are limited because of limited extension service, inadequate infrastructure and limited seed enterprise. In general, Ethiopia is not only the center and origin of coffee arabica but also indispensable coffee genetic reservoir. So, it’s better to develop strategic planning and integration with global breeding for sustainable coffee production, enhance productivity associated with quality, disease resistance and adaptability.

Published in	World Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology (Volume 4, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.wjast.20260403.13
Page(s)	61-72
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Adaptable, Breeding, Coffee, Genetic Resource, Variety Development

1. Introduction

Coffee is most important and popular traded commodity in the world market next to oil

[1]

. The genius coffee belongs to the rubiaceous family

[2]

and around 125 species are identified in the world wide

[1, 2]

. Among them, based on the economic significant, Coffea arabica and Coffea canephore species largely produced in global level

[3]

. To this end, based on ICO (2024) report showed that, the total share of green coffee bean of Arabica and Robusta 62.7 and 35.7% respectively. Even though, 1-2% of Coffea liberica is also cultivated on a small scale to satisfy local consumption

[5]

. More than 80 countries produce coffee but only 60 developing country including Ethiopia depend on coffee as s major source of their foreign currency earnings, create job opportunity and livelihood for a million of people

[4, 6, 7]

Additionally, it is estimated that 125 million of people in the coffee growing areas of the world derive their income directly or indirectly from the coffee industry through growing, processing, trading, transportation and marketing

[3]

. In generally, coffee industry have been a great roles and generate USD 220 billion each year to provides a livelihood for more than 100 million people around the worldwide

[8]

. Ethiopia is undoubtedly about the center of origin and diversity of Arabica coffee. Hence, studies indicated that, the country is well known not only being center and homeland of arabica coffee but also African’s leading and 5th major coffee producing country in the global level

[7, 9]

. Indeed, in Ethiopia, coffee industry is the corner stone and backbone to the country economy. It provides, approximately 30 -35% of the foreign currency exchange earnings, contributed about to 4-5% of country’s Gross Domestic Program (GDP) and create job opportunity to a million people in the country

[10-12]

Similarly, the importance of coffee industry is not only economic sector but also a significant effect on social interventions. For instance, “Buna-enteta” program have been a great influential power on health sector outreach program specially to create awareness on mode of transmission, preventions and their consequence of HIV/AIDs campaigns for community

[13]

. Therefore, coffee industry in Ethiopia is have been played a great role and the driving force on the country economy, socio-cultural intervention and spiritual life of the people. On the other hand, Ethiopia’s have favorable environmental conditions such as high altitude, optimal temperature, nutrient rich volcanic soils and offering vast genetic diversity on production of coffee

[14-16]

Likewise, another important opportunity includes, high national and international demands towards the product, increasing of the private sector with high investment potential and supported of both regional and federal government

[18]

. Then, the combination of the above highlighted factors is strongly contributed and a great influence to enhance production, productivity and best quality of coffee in the country. Studies finding showed that average production capacity of green coffee yield per hectare in coffee year of 2020 is 0.7 t/ha which is very far compared with 0.8 and 1.3 t/ha of world average and Brazil respectively

[17]

. The bottle neck problems that observed in production, productivity and high quality of coffee bean in the country is inadequate extension service, lack of improved coffee variety, poor field management and post-harvesting practice, environmental conditions and infertile of soil

[3, 7, 13, 17]

. Among them, coffee breeding development programs are the most important challenges because, anchored within national research institutes mandate by the state to conduct research and provide improved variety to small holder farm with specific solution

[19]

However, the institution has faced a lot of challenged such as inadequate funding, lack of specialized facilities, expertise and field trial sites across multiple locations, limited accesses to diverse genetic resource, modern breeding technologies, lack of cross border collaboration with other regional and international coffee industry

[3, 16, 17]

. Therefore, strategically development and applying coffee breeding principles are significant effects to improve the productivity, quality attribute and disease- pest resistance. However, the breeding methods and their principles are varied from country to country depending on the amount of genetic variability available, ecological conditions and prevailing problems. Even though, well organized documents and data on breeding methods, improved coffee varieties and adaptability of release coffee variety information’s are limited in Ethiopia. Therefore, the main objective of this review paper is, systematically assesses coffee production system, total improved coffee varieties in Ethiopia through pure line and hybrid breeding methods and their agroecological suitability.

2. Methodology

To organize and documented of this systematic review articles only publication research articles, review articles and proceeding papers that directly related with coffee production system, breeding methods, improved coffee varieties procedure and future strategies on modern coffee production system in Ethiopia were collected from google scholar, web of science and Scopus. In addition, get recent published research articles the following words were regularly used in google scholar: coffee production system, breeding methods in Ethiopia, improved coffee variety, pure line and hybridization breeding methods in Ethiopia.

3. Coffee Production System in Ethiopia

In Ethiopia coffee cultivated at various altitudes, ranged from 550 – 2750 meter above the sea level. However, studies finding data indicated that, 1300 – 1800 masl of altitude, 15 and 30 oC of ideal minimum and maximum temperature and 1500 to 2500 mm of annual rainfalls are most preferable and suitable environmental conditions for cultivations of arabica coffee in Ethiopia

[20, 17]

. Based on the level of management practice, vegetation, structural complexity and agronomic approaches, coffee production system in Ethiopia can be categorized into forest, semi-forest, garden and plantation coffee. Among them, the three production systems (forest, semi-forest and garden coffee) practices are familiar and traditional production systems which are managed and dominated by small holder farmers whereas, plantation production systems are uses improved technology

[21, 22]

To briefly described each production system, forest coffee is coffee grows naturally under the canopy of undisturbed primary forests, the level of management and human interventions are very limited compared with others coffee production systems

[23]

. It was reported that, forest (wild) coffee productions accounts 10% of the total coffee production in the country

[24]

. Similarly, semi-forest coffee, the level of management and intervention of human activity is high compared with forest coffee production practice. In line to this, semi-forest production system includes farmers selectively thin the forest canopy, clear undergrowth and introduce new coffee seedlings from nearby wild trees

[25]

. Additionally, farmers usually do not plant coffee cultivars but transplant semi-wild coffee plants that regenerate spontaneously inside the forest to fill open spaces in semi-forest coffee production system

[26]

. In garden coffee production in Ethiopia is, conducted by small holder farmer typically around the homes, mostly the production systems are intercropped with other plants which is contribution for food security and biodiversity

[23]

. One of the unique features of planation coffee production system is the level of management is to extremely high and used all improved technology such as used disease resistance and improved coffee varieties seed, effectively shade management practice, external input farm includes fertilizer, pesticides, weed and pest control fully implemented

[23, 26, 17]

In their study emphasized that, Ethiopia is leading arabica coffee producer and exporter in Africa and ranked fifth in major coffee producer next to Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia and Indonesia

[27]

. Indeed, according to (USDA, 2024) report showed that 175.32 million bags (60 kg) of coffee was produced in marketing year of 2024/25. Among them, 65, 29, 14.8, 10.7 and 11.5 million bags of 60 kg were obtained from the five top coffee producing country of Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia and Ethiopia respectively

[28]

. The ten consecutive marketing year of the total coffee production data of the top ten country in millions of bags were described in Table 1 below. Thus, in marketing year of 2024/25 the total exported arabica coffee bean to the world market from Ethiopia is 11.1 million bags of 60 kg which is greater than even the fourth ranked of Indonesia country (Figure 1 and Table 1).

However, in marketing year of 2022/23 the total coffee production that produced and supplied to world market from Ethiopia is 7.3 million of bags (60 kg) which is decreased by 10.97% compared with cropping season of 2021/22 (Table 1). In other study, the estimated productivity in forest and semi-forest coffee production system in Ethiopia is 200 and 600 Kg ha^-1 respectively which is very low compared with 2443 Kg ha^-1 yield obtained by Brazil

[29]

. The common factors that hinder to enhance of coffee production and productivity associated with best quality of coffee bean in Ethiopia is lack of improved coffee varieties, disease resistance, poor post-harvesting handling (storage and processing), climate change, land degradation, poor soil fertility, inadequate extension service, lack of infrastructure and limited access of market

[30-32,11]

Therefore, adequate extension service, properly storage condition, effectively field management practice, farm input, disease resistance and tolerable pest coffee variety seed, properly pruning and suitable environmental condition is had been played a great role on mitigation of the above-described challenges and significant contribution on its production

[32-34]

Table 1. Top ten coffee producing country around global level in million bags (60 kg).

Market Year	Brazil	Vietnam	Colombia	Indonesia	Ethiopia	Honduras	India	Uganda	Peru	Mexico
2015	49.4	28.9	14	12.1	6.5	5.3	5.8	3.5	3.5	2.5
2016	56.1	26.7	14.6	10.6	6.9	7.5	5.2	4.9	4.2	3.3
2017	52.1	29.3	13.8	10.4	7.1	7.6	5.3	4.6	4.4	4
2018	66.5	30.4	13.9	10.6	7.3	7.1	5.3	4.7	4.4	3.5
2019	60.5	31.3	14.1	10.7	7.5	5.2	5	5.5	3.9	3.7
2020	69.9	29	13.4	10.7	7.6	6.5	5.6	6.6	3.4	3.5
2021	58.1	31.6	11.8	10.6	8.2	4.8	5.7	6	4.2	3.7
2022	62.6	28.3	10.7	10.7	7.3	5.7	5.9	6.6	3.5	3.5
2023	66.3	27.6	12.8	8.2	9.1	5	6.6	6.4	3.9	3.9
2024	65	29	14.8	10.7	11.1	5	6.2	6.7	3.7	3.9

Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service and International Coffee Organization

Download: Download full-size image

Figure 1. Top five coffee producing country in millions of bags (60 kg).

4. Coffee Breeding Methods in Ethiopia

Coffee breeding methods across the worldwide are centers around three fundamental pillars such as improved productivity, disease resistance and adaptability. These three pillars collectively served as a corner stone and strongly influence on productivity, quality, disease resistance and sustainability of coffee production systems in global level. However, the way of breeding approaches and application techniques are varied from country to country through genetic variability, agroecological conditions, the objective of breeding and the dominate production issue

[35, 36]

. In their study emphasized that, the general breeding methods that applied for coffee producing area across the worldwide includes of Ethiopia is uses, pure line selection, intra specific hybridization F1, pedigree selection after hybridization and intraspecific hybridization (Arabica x Robusta)

[37]

. Among them, pure line and intraspecific hybridization of coffee breeding methods are commonly used in Ethiopia. However, the primary goal coffee breeding methods in Ethiopia is conserve its immense genetic resource while developing improved cultivars that address biotic (disease /pest) and abiotic (drought, climate change) stress all without compromising the unique and prized cup quality for which Ethiopia coffee is famous

[17, 39, 40]

. Therefore, once the release of coffee berry disease resistance, coffee variety followed and focused on genetics studies, yield improvement through development of varieties that combine high yield and high quality Hence, pure-line selection and intra-specific hybridization methods of breeding approach methods are described as follow.

4.1. Pure Line of Coffee Varieties Development in Ethiopia

Pure-line selection of breeding development program is followed the following procedures such as properly selection of mother tree with desirable traits from the forest coffee, followed evaluation of mother trees, seedling transplanting, and field management

[40, 41]

. Then replicated yield trials with the remaining lines, especially comparing them with established commercial varieties then after multilocation trials for many years (seasons), usually at 3–5 locations for 3–5 years and finally variety release, seed multiplication, and distribution

[37, 41]

. However, in Ethiopia, pure-line variety development breeding techniques are followed, screening, adaptation trial on the ecology verification of promising selection, variety release and seed multiplication until in 1994

[17, 40, 41]

The varieties were collected under the National and International coffee collection program were rigorously evaluated for a different number of years at each breeding stage

[35, 42]

. After the release of CBD resistance variety, pure line variety development breeding program was primely focused on releasing of varieties adaptable different agroecological condition of coffee growing area. For instance, as described in Table 1, from 1978 - 2006 a total of 23 varieties including CBD resistant varieties developed during the crash breeding program have been released and distributed for production at low to high altitude areas where coffee is predominantly produced in Ethiopia

[40, 42]

. Recently research finding showed that Ethiopia has 23 pure lines, 15 specialty coffee varieties and 3 hybrids totally 41 improved varieties were released, which are high yielding, disease-pest resistance especially (coffee berry disease), have a unique quality attribute of different locality

[43]

. In other study, from the year 1978 up to 2028 totally 41 purebred coffee variety including of coffee berry disease resistance was released under the crash plant breeding program that described in Table 2 were distributed on the different agroecological conditions of coffee growing area

[17, 40, 42]

Although, the mass of multiplication and distribution of improved and promising specialty coffee varieties to coffee growers are underway at their respective locations and the technologies are not reached all potential coffee producing areas is the main constraints and challenges were observed in Ethiopia coffee variety development program

[43]

. Additionally, incognizant of the long time required to develop improved varieties through the conventional breeding approach and the ever-increasing demand for quality and traceability, the coffee breeding program was focused on developing improved varieties for producing coffee with a unique flavor

[17]

. In generally, pure line selection methods have their own unique features and footprint on coffee production system compared with other types of breeding methods. For instance, produce highly uniform, stable varieties, high intensity, easy to maintain, identify seed certification and full sun farming

[40]

. Even though, there is some limitations such as there is no create new gens, long development time (25 -35%), limited to the genetic variation existing in the population and narrow genetic base make them more prone to new disease

[40, 41, 43]

Table 2. Pure-line coffee varieties released from coffee breeding program in Ethiopia.

Year of release	Number of varieties	Clean coffee yield (Kg/ha)	Area of recommendation
1978 -1981	13	1220 – 1970	Low to High
1997	3	1660 – 1940	Low to High
2002	2	2140 – 2540	Low to Medium
2006	5	1540 – 2350	Medium to High
2010	11	1190 – 2120	Medium to High
Total	34

Source

[34]

Table 3. Released coffee varieties in Ethiopia.

Variety group	Number of varieties	Year of release	Yield range (q/ha)
Variety group	Number of varieties	Year of release	On station	On farm
CBD Resistance	16	1978 – 2018	12.2 – 23.8	6.0 – 10.0
Low and Midland	5	1997 – 2002	16.6 – 23.4	9.0 – 20.0
Hybrid	4	1997 – 2018	24.0 – 26.0	13.0 – 20.0
Highland	4	2006	16.4 – 23.5	15.2 – 16.2
Landrace	12	2006, 2010	11.9 – 20.4	7.2 – 16.2
Total	41

Source

[32, 44]

4.2. Hybridization of Coffee Variety Development in Ethiopia

The hybridization of coffee variety breeding method was started in 1978 in Ethiopia. The primary objective of hybridization of coffee variety development program in Ethiopia is yield and quality improvement, disease resistance, utilizing heterosis, environmental adaptation and combining ability

[38, 44]

. Moreover, it’s compared with pure line selection, hybridization of coffee breeding method is highly significant effects and great influential powers on coffee production system in the country. For instance, enhanced disease and pest resistance, high yield potential and heterosis, superior adaptation and stability, utilization of genetic diversity and fast improvement in quality

[45, 46]

. However, the methods are required a more complex, expensive and technical breeding programs.

On the other hand, few studies were conducted on hybridization of coffee variety development program in Ethiopia. For example, hybrid coffee variety that releases in the year of 1997 and 2002 reported showed that, the first three hybrid varieties are a significant effect on high yield, moderate resistance to diseases such as CBD & CLR, acceptable quality for production at medium altitude coffee growing areas of the country

[43, 47]

. In addition, the F1 hybrid coffee varieties finding underlined that the highest and lowest average mean value of green coffee yield is 2610 and 2168 Kg ha-1 was recorded in varieties name of ETAR50-CH and Awarda HBA respectively (Table 4). In this study, from the total nine F1 hybrid coffee varieties around 89% of released coffee varieties are more adapted on Southwest except rorri variety that adapted in South (sidama). Likewise, as described in Table 5 from the totally released hybrid coffee varieties almost all varieties adapted mid-altitude (1500 to 1750 masl) agroecological conditions but some of the varieties like EIAR50/-CH, Melko Ibsitu and Gera -CHI coffee varieties are adapted both mid and low altitude environmental conditions.

Table 4. List of F1 hybrid coffee verities released from coffee breeding program in Ethiopia.

Name of varieties	Year of release	Green bean Yield (Kg/ha)	Altitude	Recommended coffee growing area
Ababuna	1997	2380	1500-1752	Southwest
Melko CH2	1997	2400	1500-1752	Southwest
Gawe	2002	2610	1500-1752	Southwest
EIAR50-CH	2016	2650	1000-2000	Southwest (Tepi, Bebeka)
Melko Ibsitu	2016	2490	1000-1752	Southwest (Tepi, Bebeka)
Tepi-CH5	2016	2340	1000-1752	Southwest (Tepi, Bebeka)
Gera-CH1	2018	2300	1940-2000	Southwest
Rorri	2022	2464	1600-1850	South (Sidama)
AwadaHB1	2022	2168	1600-1850	Southwest

Source

[40, 42]

Table 5. List of F1 hybrid coffee varieties that suitable altitude coffee producing area.

Name of varieties	Suitable altitude for coffee growing area
Name of varieties	High-altitude >1750 m.a.s.l	Mid-altitude (1500 -1750) m.a.s.l	Low -altitude (1000 -1500) m.a.s.l
Ababuna
Melko CH2
Gawe
EIAR50-CH
Melko Ibsitu
Tepi-CH5
Gera-CH1
Rorri
AwadaHB1

Indicate adaptability area of the varieties, Source

[40]

4.3. Breeding for Disease Resistance (BDR)

Coffee products are strongly affected through the different fungi pathogens. Among them, coffee berry disease (CBD), coffee wilt disease (CWD) and coffee leaf rust (CLR) have been played a great impact on coffee production and quality in global level

[47]

. The common fungi pathogens are Colletorichum kahawae, Gibberella xylarioides and Hemilaia vastarix species are leads coffee berry, coffee wilt and coffee leaf rust respectively

[48]

. These described diseases are directly affected the yield and quality

[49]

. Studies finding showed that, coffee berry disease (CBD) is affect the coffee production from range of 25 to 30% but in the presence of favorable environmental conditions they can be damage up to 100%

[48]

. The outbreak of the disease in Ethiopia was first established and reported in 1971 in Sidama, Illubabur and Kaffa but latter by 1978 the disease was spread in almost all coffee growing region of the country

[50]

The disease is widely spread in major coffee growing area and severity of CBD that observed in Bedeno and Yirgachefe of Oromia and South Nation Nationality and People of Religion is 51.1 and 48.8% respectively

[49]

. Similar, the incidence of CBD severity in West Hararge was ranged from 8.0 to 84.0% with an average of 49.7% which is indicated its great impacts on coffee production system in Ethiopia

[51]

. Likewise, Coffee leaf rust (CLR) is also the most dangerous coffee disease in the worldwide and has a great economic impact on coffee sector. For instance, it causes losses of one to two billion USD annually of arabica coffee production in worldwide

[52]

. Moreover, three -fourth of the coffee cultivated in the world is susceptible to the majority of physiologic pathogenic races

[53]

Hence, Ethiopia plays a uniquely critical role in the global fight against CBD, both as a country severely impacted by the disease and as the primary source of genetic resistance for international breeding programs. Then, coffee berry disease (CBD) was first reported in Ethiopia in 1971 and it spreads in all coffee-producing areas in which it has been favored by favorable environmental conditions

[49-51]

. Therefore, breeding program was started before 30 years and the applications are more effective and succeeded in developing new cultivars with long term CBD resistance

[41]

. To this end, different types of breeding systems that applied for selection of disease resistance coffee variety such as pure-line selection, hybridization (intra-specific), interspecific hybridization, molecular breeding and tissue culture methods

[54]

. Molecular breeding techniques such as marker assisted selection (MAS) and the use of DNA markers are more advanced and fast breeding techniques by enabling the early and efficient identification of resistance genes in seedlings or progenies

[55]

. Whereas biotechnology approach through tissue culture breeding method is more essential and effective for rapid and mass propagation of promising F1 hybrids or selected resistant genotypes however, cannot be propagated through convectional seed due to the need to maintain a true type genetic makeup

[56]

. But pure line selection method is individually identifying and selection of the best mother tree with desirable traits such as naturally resistance to CBD from existing wild/local landrace

[57]

. According to

[32]

reported that, farmers’ acceptance of CBD resistant hybrid varieties such as Ababuna is higher than the earlier released lines, because of better agronomic performance. Over all, generalized outline of the breeding systems that was proposed for arabica coffee breeding program in Ethiopia was described in Figure 2 below.

Download: Download full-size image

Figure 2. A generalized outline the breeding scheme proposed for arabica coffee

[32]

4.4. Future Strategies of Coffee Breeding System on Modern Coffee Production

The ultimate goal and key characteristics of coffee breeding method in Ethiopia is to develop productivity associated with producing of best quality of coffee bean, disease-pest resistance and adaptable on local agroecological condition. Then, to achieve this primary breeding objective, it should develop the key breeding strategies such as, climate smart agricultural practice aligned with varieties, applying of different breeding technology (biotechnology application), interspecific hybridization, and conservation genetic resource. Hence, to enhance production and productivity of arabica coffee in Ethiopia, its’ better to search more effective, economical visible and less labor-intensive breeding methods. For example, integrated biotechnology approaches are a significant effect on scaling up productivity, largely propagation and less labor intensive.

According to

[58]

and

[59]

emphasized that, tissue culture techniques could provide a best alternative coffee propagation as it allowed the production of relatively uniform plantlets on a large scale within a shorter period. Similarly, Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is also another important and powerful biotechnology applications that highly contributed for mass propagation, reducing labor intensive, enabling the scaling up productivity, conservation of genetic and sustainable of arabica coffee cultivars

[60, 61]

. However, these approaches are required skilled manpower, highly sensitive and advanced laboratory with well-equipped laboratory facilities and adequate budget. Therefore, established modern coffee varieties breeding program in Ethiopia, it’s required collaborative research work with national and international levels, adequate budget to facilitate modern laboratory technology and others.

On the other hand, climate change is recently the burning issue and gain the attention of worldwide that required urgent need of global action to mitigate its effects. For instance, climate change strongly affects and leads a negative impact on agricultural commodity including of coffee through variation of rainfall and temperature

[62]

. Furthermore, smallholder farmers are highly vulnerable and affects by climate change due to the lack of modern agricultural technology and their efforts to mitigate is still limited

[63, 64]

. Then, several studies were conducted and finding underlined that, coffee sector was faced several challenges through climate changes includes, reducing of coffee quality, yield, household income, food insecurity, export earnings and leads economic contraction

[65-67]

. Moreover, it was reported that, twelve thousands of coffee germplasm was collected by Jimma Agricultural Research Center (JARC), among them around 15.35% of coffee accessions were died by the climate change factors

[60]

. Moreover, overview of the impacts of climate change on production, productivity and quality of coffee is described in Figure 3 below.

Download: Download full-size image

Figure 3. The impacts of climate change on coffee [68].

To this end, as described in Figure 4, climate smart agricultural practices are the pillar and very important tackling approaches to mitigating of climate change to sustainable of agricultural crops and coffee sector through the intervention such as, the use of improved coffee varieties, shade tree management, intercropping, soil and water conservation, mulching and integrated pest management. Indeed, finding indicated that, climate smart agricultural practices are strongly contributions the coffee industry and result revealed that, 89.9%, 89.1%, 83.8%, 82.8%, and 79.2% of weed control, intercropping coffee, shade tree management, stumping and use of improved varieties respectively was adopted on climate smart farming practices

[69]

Similar, study was conducted on farmers adaptation strategies to climate change and variability in Dara Woreda, South Ethiopia. The result showed that 10.41%, 16.10%, 15.76%, 25.14% and 14.24% of off-farm employment, mixed farming, improved coffee variety, soil and water conservation and small-scale irrigation respectively was recorded on the farmers adopted strategies on climate change

[70]

. Likewise, the development of environmentally friendly, dependable and drought resistant coffee varieties is a fundamental effort to meet the difficulties of climate change, even though integrated techniques may be more appropriate given the complexity of the trait

[71]

Download: Download full-size image

Figure 4. The effects of Climate Smart Agriculture Practice.

5. Conclusion

Coffee is one of the most popular traded commodities in the world market and its main source of foreign currency earnings, create job opportunity and livelihood to more than one hundred million people in global level. In Ethiopia, coffee industry is backbone of the country economy and it provides 25-30% foreign currency earnings, 10% of total government revenue and source of income generation to more than 15 million of population. Ethiopia is not only center of origin and genetic diversity of arabica coffee but also leading exporter and producer from Africa and ranked fifth next to Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia and Indonesia in global level. However, due to several factors such as climate change, agricultural practice, inadequate post- harvest processing and extension service, availability of improved coffee varieties, weak of infrastructure, lack of well-equipped and organized modern laboratory to release improved coffee varieties and others bottle neck problems the production level is low compared with major coffee producing country.

On the other hand, coffee production system in Ethiopia, based on the level of management, vegetation, structural complexity and agronomic approaches, can be categorized as forest, semi-forest, garden and plantation. Among them, forest, semi-forest and garden coffee production systems are largely dominated and grown by smallholder farmers which is cultivated less than of two hectares while plantation production system is followed modern technology and contributed 10 -15% on total coffee production system of the country.

The principles and primary ultimate goal of arabica coffee breeding program in Ethiopia is, to develop new and high yielder, good quality, disease - pest resistance, increase plant density and adaptability of coffee growing area of the country. So, based on the pure line and hybridization breeding methods, totally 41 improved coffee varieties were released. However, multiplication and distribution of the improved coffee variety to coffee growers are limited. The common factors include limited research center, inadequate infrastructure for breeding and availability of coffee seed. Hence, to achieve breeding objective and to improve coffee production system in the country, it should develop the key breeding strategies such as, climate smart varieties, biotechnology application, interspecific hybridization, and conservation genetic resource. The reason why, tissue culture and Somatic embryogenesis (SE) methods are a powerful biotechnology technique that significantly used large number propagation, reducing labor intensive, enabling the scaling up productivity, conservation of genetic and sustainable of arabica coffee cultivars.

Likewise, climate change is also another important factors and leads great impacts on agricultural sector particularly on coffee product. Therefore, implementing of climate smart agricultural practice and collaborative research with global level on the modern coffee breeding methods are highly essential for largely propagation of the coffee varieties within a short period of time with low cost.

Abbreviations

CBD	Coffee Berry Disease
CLR	Coffee Leaf Rust
CWD	Coffee Wilt Disease
CSA	Climate Smart Agriculture
EIAR	Ethiopia Institution Agricultural Research
ICO	International Coffee Organization
JARC	Jimma Agricultural Research Center

Author Contributions

Salasib Atumo: Conceptualization, Writing – review & editing

Conflicts of Interest

There is no any conflicts of the interest.

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Atumo, S. (2026). Ethiopia Coffee Variety Development for Modern Coffee Production (Review). World Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, 4(3), 61-72. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjast.20260403.13

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Atumo, S. Ethiopia Coffee Variety Development for Modern Coffee Production (Review). World J. Agric. Sci. Technol. 2026, 4(3), 61-72. doi: 10.11648/j.wjast.20260403.13

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Atumo S. Ethiopia Coffee Variety Development for Modern Coffee Production (Review). World J Agric Sci Technol. 2026;4(3):61-72. doi: 10.11648/j.wjast.20260403.13

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@article{10.11648/j.wjast.20260403.13,
  author = {Salasib Atumo},
  title = {Ethiopia Coffee Variety Development for Modern Coffee Production (Review)},
  journal = {World Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology},
  volume = {4},
  number = {3},
  pages = {61-72},
  doi = {10.11648/j.wjast.20260403.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjast.20260403.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.wjast.20260403.13},
  abstract = {Coffee plays a significant role in the world economy next to oil. More than 80 countries produce coffee but only 60 developing country including Ethiopia depend on coffee as s major source of their foreign currency earnings. Ethiopia is African’s leading coffee producer and 5th major coffee producing country in the world. However, the production and productivity of coffee are low compared with the major coffee producing countries, this is due to inadequate extension service, limited improved coffee variety and traditional farming practices. Therefore, strategically development and applying coffee breeding principles are significant effects to improve the productivity, quality attribute and disease- pest resistance. However, the breeding methods and their principles are varied from country to country depending on the amount of genetic variability available, ecological conditions and prevailing problems. Even though, well organized documents and data on breeding methods, improved coffee varieties and adaptability of release coffee varieties information’s are limited in Ethiopia. Therefore, the main objective of this review paper is, systematically assesses coffee production system, total improved coffee varieties in Ethiopia through pure line and hybrid breeding methods and their agroecological suitability. The ultimate goal of arabica coffee breeding program in Ethiopia is, to develop new and high yielder, best quality, disease - pest resistance, and adaptable on different agroecology of coffee growing area of the country. Then, coffee berry disease resistance, low and midland targeted, hybrid, highland and landrace are 16, 5, 4, 4 and 12 in number respectively total 41 improved coffee varieties were released. The unique features of these released coffee varieties are high yielder, best quality, disease - pest resistance and adaptable. However, multiplication and distribution of the improved coffee variety to coffee growers are limited because of limited extension service, inadequate infrastructure and limited seed enterprise. In general, Ethiopia is not only the center and origin of coffee arabica but also indispensable coffee genetic reservoir. So, it’s better to develop strategic planning and integration with global breeding for sustainable coffee production, enhance productivity associated with quality, disease resistance and adaptability.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Ethiopia Coffee Variety Development for Modern Coffee Production (Review)
AU  - Salasib Atumo
Y1  - 2026/07/22
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjast.20260403.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.wjast.20260403.13
T2  - World Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
JF  - World Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
JO  - World Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
SP  - 61
EP  - 72
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2994-7332
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjast.20260403.13
AB  - Coffee plays a significant role in the world economy next to oil. More than 80 countries produce coffee but only 60 developing country including Ethiopia depend on coffee as s major source of their foreign currency earnings. Ethiopia is African’s leading coffee producer and 5th major coffee producing country in the world. However, the production and productivity of coffee are low compared with the major coffee producing countries, this is due to inadequate extension service, limited improved coffee variety and traditional farming practices. Therefore, strategically development and applying coffee breeding principles are significant effects to improve the productivity, quality attribute and disease- pest resistance. However, the breeding methods and their principles are varied from country to country depending on the amount of genetic variability available, ecological conditions and prevailing problems. Even though, well organized documents and data on breeding methods, improved coffee varieties and adaptability of release coffee varieties information’s are limited in Ethiopia. Therefore, the main objective of this review paper is, systematically assesses coffee production system, total improved coffee varieties in Ethiopia through pure line and hybrid breeding methods and their agroecological suitability. The ultimate goal of arabica coffee breeding program in Ethiopia is, to develop new and high yielder, best quality, disease - pest resistance, and adaptable on different agroecology of coffee growing area of the country. Then, coffee berry disease resistance, low and midland targeted, hybrid, highland and landrace are 16, 5, 4, 4 and 12 in number respectively total 41 improved coffee varieties were released. The unique features of these released coffee varieties are high yielder, best quality, disease - pest resistance and adaptable. However, multiplication and distribution of the improved coffee variety to coffee growers are limited because of limited extension service, inadequate infrastructure and limited seed enterprise. In general, Ethiopia is not only the center and origin of coffee arabica but also indispensable coffee genetic reservoir. So, it’s better to develop strategic planning and integration with global breeding for sustainable coffee production, enhance productivity associated with quality, disease resistance and adaptability.
VL  - 4
IS  - 3
ER  -

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Salasib Atumo

Department of Coffee Science and Technology, Bonga University, Bonga, Ethiopia

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Atumo, S. (2026). Ethiopia Coffee Variety Development for Modern Coffee Production (Review). World Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, 4(3), 61-72. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjast.20260403.13

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Atumo, S. Ethiopia Coffee Variety Development for Modern Coffee Production (Review). World J. Agric. Sci. Technol. 2026, 4(3), 61-72. doi: 10.11648/j.wjast.20260403.13

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Atumo S. Ethiopia Coffee Variety Development for Modern Coffee Production (Review). World J Agric Sci Technol. 2026;4(3):61-72. doi: 10.11648/j.wjast.20260403.13

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@article{10.11648/j.wjast.20260403.13,
  author = {Salasib Atumo},
  title = {Ethiopia Coffee Variety Development for Modern Coffee Production (Review)},
  journal = {World Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology},
  volume = {4},
  number = {3},
  pages = {61-72},
  doi = {10.11648/j.wjast.20260403.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjast.20260403.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.wjast.20260403.13},
  abstract = {Coffee plays a significant role in the world economy next to oil. More than 80 countries produce coffee but only 60 developing country including Ethiopia depend on coffee as s major source of their foreign currency earnings. Ethiopia is African’s leading coffee producer and 5th major coffee producing country in the world. However, the production and productivity of coffee are low compared with the major coffee producing countries, this is due to inadequate extension service, limited improved coffee variety and traditional farming practices. Therefore, strategically development and applying coffee breeding principles are significant effects to improve the productivity, quality attribute and disease- pest resistance. However, the breeding methods and their principles are varied from country to country depending on the amount of genetic variability available, ecological conditions and prevailing problems. Even though, well organized documents and data on breeding methods, improved coffee varieties and adaptability of release coffee varieties information’s are limited in Ethiopia. Therefore, the main objective of this review paper is, systematically assesses coffee production system, total improved coffee varieties in Ethiopia through pure line and hybrid breeding methods and their agroecological suitability. The ultimate goal of arabica coffee breeding program in Ethiopia is, to develop new and high yielder, best quality, disease - pest resistance, and adaptable on different agroecology of coffee growing area of the country. Then, coffee berry disease resistance, low and midland targeted, hybrid, highland and landrace are 16, 5, 4, 4 and 12 in number respectively total 41 improved coffee varieties were released. The unique features of these released coffee varieties are high yielder, best quality, disease - pest resistance and adaptable. However, multiplication and distribution of the improved coffee variety to coffee growers are limited because of limited extension service, inadequate infrastructure and limited seed enterprise. In general, Ethiopia is not only the center and origin of coffee arabica but also indispensable coffee genetic reservoir. So, it’s better to develop strategic planning and integration with global breeding for sustainable coffee production, enhance productivity associated with quality, disease resistance and adaptability.},
 year = {2026}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Ethiopia Coffee Variety Development for Modern Coffee Production (Review)
AU  - Salasib Atumo
Y1  - 2026/07/22
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjast.20260403.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.wjast.20260403.13
T2  - World Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
JF  - World Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
JO  - World Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
SP  - 61
EP  - 72
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2994-7332
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjast.20260403.13
AB  - Coffee plays a significant role in the world economy next to oil. More than 80 countries produce coffee but only 60 developing country including Ethiopia depend on coffee as s major source of their foreign currency earnings. Ethiopia is African’s leading coffee producer and 5th major coffee producing country in the world. However, the production and productivity of coffee are low compared with the major coffee producing countries, this is due to inadequate extension service, limited improved coffee variety and traditional farming practices. Therefore, strategically development and applying coffee breeding principles are significant effects to improve the productivity, quality attribute and disease- pest resistance. However, the breeding methods and their principles are varied from country to country depending on the amount of genetic variability available, ecological conditions and prevailing problems. Even though, well organized documents and data on breeding methods, improved coffee varieties and adaptability of release coffee varieties information’s are limited in Ethiopia. Therefore, the main objective of this review paper is, systematically assesses coffee production system, total improved coffee varieties in Ethiopia through pure line and hybrid breeding methods and their agroecological suitability. The ultimate goal of arabica coffee breeding program in Ethiopia is, to develop new and high yielder, best quality, disease - pest resistance, and adaptable on different agroecology of coffee growing area of the country. Then, coffee berry disease resistance, low and midland targeted, hybrid, highland and landrace are 16, 5, 4, 4 and 12 in number respectively total 41 improved coffee varieties were released. The unique features of these released coffee varieties are high yielder, best quality, disease - pest resistance and adaptable. However, multiplication and distribution of the improved coffee variety to coffee growers are limited because of limited extension service, inadequate infrastructure and limited seed enterprise. In general, Ethiopia is not only the center and origin of coffee arabica but also indispensable coffee genetic reservoir. So, it’s better to develop strategic planning and integration with global breeding for sustainable coffee production, enhance productivity associated with quality, disease resistance and adaptability.
VL  - 4
IS  - 3
ER  -

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