Boosting Coffee Quality and Profits with Solar Dryers in Ethiopia
- Innovative polycarbonate solar dryers for coffee production
- Technology protects harvests and improves quality
- Partnerships promote sustainable development
Covestro, which is dedicated to environmentally friendly agricultural practices, has created customized polycarbonate solar dryers to help Ethiopian coffee growers during harvest. The project, which is being carried out in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, is to use straightforward yet efficient technologies to help people in underdeveloped areas across the world.
Coffee is one of Ethiopia’s most important trade commodities and provides a livelihood for many smallholder farmers. However, changing climate conditions—such as rising temperatures and irregular rainfall—are significantly impacting coffee cultivation. Yields are decreasing, and plants are becoming more susceptible to diseases. This is where the Covestro and GIZ project comes in, working to make coffee production more efficient and resilient.
To achieve this, they have supported to develop solar dryers—parabolic structures that function like greenhouses but offer better control over temperature and humidity. Instead of glass, lightweight, transparent, and insulating polycarbonate multiwall sheets are used, which also provide UV protection. This technology enables fast and hygienic drying of coffee while protecting the harvest from rain, pests, and mold.
GIZ supports the project as part of the German development program develoPPP, which promotes sustainable initiatives in developing and emerging countries. The goal is to combine private sector engagement with development policy objectives to achieve long-term economic and social benefits. “The solar-powered greenhouse dryers have significantly reduced drying times for both washed and naturally processed coffees. This allows farmers to process their coffee more efficiently and bring it to market faster. Additionally, the sealed environment of the dryers protects the beans from contamination, improving quality and minimizing waste. Local cooperatives have embraced this innovation as a valuable asset for their coffee production,” explains Dr. Helene Widmer, Project Manager at GIZ. “Our collaboration with Covestro demonstrates how innovative material technologies can contribute to stabilizing agriculture.”
Pejman Norastehfar, Head of Inclusive Business EMEA at Covestro, adds: “The successful implementation of solar dryers impressively demonstrates the positive impact that innovative and sustainable technologies can have on the coffee industry. We are proud to work with GIZ and local cooperatives to provide a solution that not only increases efficiency but also enhances the quality and shelf life of coffee. With our solutions, we can help address the challenges of climate change right here on the ground.”
So far, six solar dryers have been installed in Ethiopia, and the project continues to gain momentum. One of Ethiopia’s largest coffee roasters has taken notice of the solar dryers and has already purchased four additional units for its own production, which are installed at the moment.
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