Train a Farmer - Feed a Nation (Developing a Private Agricultural and Environmental University in Ethiopia).

Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa. It has experienced periodic droughts and famine. Currently the Horn of Africa area, including Ethiopia, is experiencing one of the worst droughts and famines in many years. A report by the United Nations has highlighted that the most effective way to fight food insecurity is through agricultural/environmental education and research. In 2012, a group of professionals in North America and in Ethiopia initiated an ambitious project to start Bethel Environmental and Agricultural University and Training Center (BEAUTC) in the city of Woliso, 70 miles southwest of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. This work is the “second career” of the author. The mission of BEAUTC is to establish a university and training center focused primarily on environmental stewardship and agricultural productivity that will serve the people of Ethiopia. The vision is that Ethiopians and other Africans will experience a vibrant and thriving environmental and agricultural landscape that will lead to food security and a higher quality of life. Our motto is “Train a Farmer – Feed a Nation.” The development of a private university provides both opportunities and challenges. This presentation will summarize the background and progress to date in achieving the goals of BEAUTC.