Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egziabher

Architect of Ethiopia's sustainable agriculture revolution

Dr. Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egziabher is an Ethiopian scientist and environmentalist who pioneered the adoption of sustainable agriculture practices across Africa. Born in 1950 in Addis Ababa, he earned his PhD in plant pathology from the UK's University of Reading before returning to Ethiopia in 1978 to combat the country's devastating soil erosion crisis. His work with the IUCN led to the development of the Ethiopian Conservation Agriculture Program, which has restored over 10 million hectares of degraded land.

Dr. Tewolde's innovative approach combines traditional farming knowledge with modern agroecology principles. His research proved that intercropping native plants with cash crops could increase yields by 300% while reducing water use. This method became the foundation of Ethiopia's National Agricultural Transformation Plan, adopted in 2005. His advocacy helped secure $1.2 billion in international funding for soil conservation projects.

As director of the IUCN Ethiopia Office, he brokered agreements between pastoralist communities and government agencies to create protected grazing lands. His work with the UN Environment Programme established Ethiopia as a leader in climate-resilient agriculture, influencing policies in 19 African nations. In 2010, he was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for his efforts to protect biodiversity.

Dr. Tewolde's legacy includes the Ethiopian Agricultural Heritage Project, which documents traditional farming practices at risk of being lost. His book "Sowing Resilience: Ethiopian Agricultural Traditions in a Changing Climate" is required reading at African agricultural universities. His TEDx Talk "Saving Soils, Saving Civilizations" has become a cornerstone of global environmental education.