Lovegrass

In honour of #EarthDay , we humbly suggest 3 ways Habesha Teff is good for our planet. 1. Resistant to floods & droughts. Secure for future generations. 2. Sustainable protein. Lower emissions that meat & fish. 3. Farmed small-scale. Biodiversity is uncompromised.

@StuartGillesp16 @SheilaDillon At least he raises it as an issue, not to mention the billions he has poured in to it.

True innovation "on the needs of the Global South" will not come from you, will not involve you... How long does it take for the penny to drop?

IATF 2023 intrafricantradefair.com/en Continental diversity in art, fashion, products and services are in full display. I have attended many trade fares in my life time but nothing matches this. It displays the future aspirations and hopes of an entire continent.

IATF 2023 Continental diversity in art, fashion, products and services are in full display. I have attended many trade fares in my life time but nothing matches this. It displays the future aspirations and hopes of an entire continent. pic.twitter.com/kts6zgYHhB

IATF 2023 intrafricantradefair.com/en Continental diversity in art, fashion, products and services are in full display. I have attended many trade fares in my life time but nothing matches this. It displays the future aspirations and hopes of an entire continent. pic.twitter.com/s3ixWatgfV

Day 3 at the IATF 2023 in Cairo. The Intra-African Trade Fair is where entrepreneurs from across 54 African nations are making deals and arranging deals. Countries small and large are present. Still looking for my own Ethiopia's pavilion. I will post it as soon as I find it

Lovegrass Ethiopia is exhibiting at the continent's largest trade fair. The IATF in Cairo. We will be at Hall 5, Stand no. G503. We look forward to meeting you all there.

@EleniGabre @Benji_Fernandes Huge indeed. The passion is infectious. If only policy makers were watching. Wealth is created infinitely by entrepreneurs who dare to believe it can be done. Thanks for sharing.

This is SO HUGE, thanks @Benji_Fernandes for reminder… #timbuktoo

@Anna_Choj I was starting to despair for some good news recently. This is a welcome relief.

At least some good news here! It looks like Poland has voted out it's populist right wing government for a more progressive coalition. Na Zdrowie! theguardian.com/commentisfree/…

In Ethiopia as everywhere else in the world, dreams really come true when you persevere. linkedin.com/posts/lovegras…

Can Teff help transform an agrarian economy like Ethiopia? We think it can. We attach a podcast below. euronews.com/culture/2023/0…

@iyoba4u @EBRnews euronews.com/culture/2023/0…

While #Ethiopia becoming successful in wheat cluster farming, the indigenous #Teff lacks attention from patent view and farming issues. @EBRnews

Ethiopia: Reviving teff's ancient roots through modern farming shows.acast.com/63345b463c8dea… via @acast

@RenaissanceDam @iyoba4u This article left me confused. You said we fought with passion over Teff. You then wrote, a Dutch company won the fight. Meaning two Dutch companies fought over Ethiopian teff. Did Ethiopians ever go to court to challenge the pattern?

ጅብ ከሄዴ ውሻ ጮኸ እንዳያሆን ነገሩ From Teff Patents to Nile Waters: The High-Stakes Battle to Preserve Ethiopia's 70% Of Surface Water Treasures. let's get into it. So, how many of you knew that Ethiopia nearly lost its native grain, teff, to a Dutch patent? Yeah, you heard that right. Our teff—a staple food here and a global superfood—was almost hijacked! Sure, a European court threw out that patent in 2019, but don't think for a second that the fight is over. Now, let's shift gears a bit. You think teff is important? Let's talk about something even more vital—our water. The Nile River isn't just a stream; it's our lifeblood. We've got to protect it like we did with teff. Remember, in 2006, we said "No more!" and banned teff exports to shield our people. We need that same fiery spirit to guard our water. Think about this. If we'd sat quietly during those key 2020 talks, we would have practically gift-wrapped our water rights to others. This isn't just a matter of teff or water; it's about standing up for Ethiopia's soul. It's about being masters of our own destiny. Enough of tribalism and petty interests. It's time we break out of our small circles and think big, think Ethiopia! Our farmers don't just need cash; they need modern tools and know-how to up their game. We should aim not just to survive but to excel. It's not just about technology, folks. We've got to power up our legal and diplomatic muscles too. We're not on the defensive; we're on the offensive. We need to rally with the same passion we had in reclaiming our teff and apply it to secure our water rights. So, here's the bottom line: If we don't rise up now, we're not just losing a handful of teff grains; we're putting an entire river—a river of opportunities—on the line. It's high time we say, "Enough is enough!" and put Ethiopia first. Always. Now, let's not forget who started this teff saga. It was a Dutch company called Health and Performance Food International (HPFI). They thought they were clever, patenting a so-called 'unique' way to mill our teff. But they were challenged, taken to court, and finally beaten by another Dutch company, Ancient grain, who called them out for claiming what has been ours for centuries. In 2019, a Dutch court slammed the gavel and said, "No way, this patent is invalid." Why? Because the technique HPFI claimed to have 'invented' was actually an Ethiopian traditional method. We cheered, and rightly so, because this was a win against cultural piracy. But don't pop the champagne yet. That patent is still lurking in other European countries, and we've got more legal battles to fight. Ethiopia is already strapping on its armor, ready to challenge this patent wherever it exists and to protect our heritage and natural resources. So, there you have it—a tale of Ethiopia fighting like a lion to take back what's ours. It's a wake-up call, folks. If we don't act now, we stand to lose not just our grains but our entire future. Let's unite and put Ethiopia first!

@munirkassa Sir please take a look at a product called Birtat. Over two years in the making it is similar to besso although it is free of all 14 allergens and packed with all 14 vitamins and minerals as per WFP guidelines. Developed by Lovegrass Ethiopia a home grown company.

@lia_tadesse @munirkassa Excellency, at Lovegrass Ethiopia we spent over two years developing a nourishing product called Birtat. It is packed with all essential vitamins and minerals as per WFP guidelines. Free of all 14 allergens, it is similar to besso. Good nutrition. Prevention is better than cure.

Join us for the International Conference on Primary Health Care in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on September 5-7! Register now to secure your spot and be a part of this important event. Registration is open: lnkd.in/eau4_43q #ICPHC2023

@jeffpropulsion Jeff I have a hard copy of this legend's life and work. The best and most reliable account of Ethiopia's recent turbulent history. Unfortunately I don't have a soft copy. If you ever find it please share it. It is a book every Ethiopian should be obliged to read.

@FendikaCenter @iyoba4u I am delighted to read this. Go and continue to amaze and entertain the world with this house of love and creativity. But I have to say that Fendika or not I felt an entrepreneurial spirit like this can only be paused but never stopped.

Selam selam I just received the news that the Mayor of Addis Ababa has listened to our voices and has given us the permission to keep Fendika, because of what Melaku has done for the country. Thank you all in Ethiopia and all around the world for standing with us and your love!

@HenokPrecise Thank you for not resisting and for sharing this.

“My dream – the solution – is that we would have a National Entrepreneur Day, with the following message: Most of you will fail, disrespected, impoverished, but we are grateful for the risks you are taking and the sacrifices you are making for the sake of the economic growth of the planet and pulling others out of poverty. You are at the source of our antifragility. Our nation thanks you.” - @nntaleb #BookoftheWeek from the always educational and entertaining Nassim Nicholas Taleb. Obviously, the book is about much more than entrepreneurship. But I couldn't resist the quote.

Yes, it is possible to brand, develop and manufacture in Africa and compete in a crowded global market. bbc.com/amharic/articl…