Improving Coffee Production and Quality Using Infrared Technology

Overview 

Project	Improving Coffee Production and Quality Using Infrared Technology
Collaborators	University of Hohenheim(Germany) University of Massachusetts Boston (United States) Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union(Ethiopia)
Location Applied	Ethiopia
Website	Horn of Africa

Coffee accounts for 60 percent of the export earnings in Ethiopia, and is processed by dry and wet processing. Wet processed is preferred in the global market. Unfortunately, farmers do not see the full benefit of their coffee production. A significant portion of coffee harvested is of inferior quality due to the traditional sun drying process. This process can take up to twelve days and increases exposure of coffee to fungi and other undesirable elements. Thermal drying is energy intensive and takes up a large amount of space.

Clean Energy Solution

The proposed solution uses state of the art infrared technology to reduce coffee pulp drying time from several days to hours. Reduced drying time minimizes the post-harvest loss that occurs when using the conventional sun drying process. Biogas generated from coffee pulp and coffee husk will be used to power the bioreactors used for infrared drying.

Impact

The project will significantly reduce the time farmers spend processing their coffee crop. This time saved can be used for other more productive activities. Converting waste products from coffee production into useful energy reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The project will also improve work conditions for women and children, who are primarily responsible for the sun drying process which requires all-day exposure to the sun. In addition, the project will provide alternative livelihoods for the woman by engaging them in mushroom production from coffee husk.

Organization

The Horn of Africa Regional Environment Center and Network (HoA-REC&N) is an autonomous institution under Addis Ababa University. HoA-REC&N focuses on environmental concerns and sustainable development options within the Horn of Africa. Partner institutions include University of Hohenheim; University of Massachusetts–Boston; and the Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union.