Ethiopia has completed the technical handover of a nationwide digital traceability platform for its coffee sector, positioning exporters to meet stricter sustainability and compliance requirements in key markets such as the European Union.
According to birrmetrics, the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority (ECTA) said the Ethiopian Coffee Traceability and Management System (ECTMS), developed in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), is now operational following a formal handover process.
The platform is designed to digitise the movement of coffee from farm to export, replacing largely paper-based processes in one of the country’s most important industries. Ethiopia is Africa’s largest coffee producer and among the world’s top exporters, with the sector supporting millions of smallholder farmers and accounting for a significant share of foreign exchange earnings.
The rollout comes as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) introduces new compliance requirements for commodities linked to deforestation, including coffee. Exporters must provide verifiable data on the origin of products and demonstrate that production has not contributed to forest loss.
According to ECTA, the system integrates geolocation data, supply chain tracking and risk analysis tools. A mobile application allows field-level collection of farm coordinates, while digital records track the movement of coffee through processing, transport and export stages. The platform also incorporates mapping features to assess deforestation risks in cultivation areas.
Adugna Debela, director-general of ECTA, said traceability systems are becoming central to maintaining market access as regulatory standards evolve. He added that the authority plans to use the platform to support compliance, improve transparency and strengthen the sector’s competitiveness in international markets.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to modernise Ethiopia’s agricultural exports through digital systems and align production with global sustainability frameworks. Development partners, including GIZ and private sector contributors, have supported the design and implementation of the system.
Industry participants say the shift to digital traceability could help exporters meet documentation requirements more efficiently, while providing international buyers with verifiable data on origin and supply chains.
