It's time to take a business model approach to restore Ethiopia's lands

The impacts of land degradation are already severe and far reaching. Degraded lands threaten soils, biodiversity, and the ability to grow food. Degradation makes it difficult for farmers to achieve the level of intensified agricultural production necessary to meet projected food demand. As with many developing countries across Africa and the world, this is Ethiopia’s struggle.

Attempts to reverse land degradation are complicated by numerous institutional and socioeconomic challenges, such as the lack of short-term incentives to invest in environmental restoration…