About the Project

    The Circular Coffee Project

    A 5-year North-South cooperative VLIR-UOS-TEAMS funded HEI research programme for a Circular Coffee Economy, built by expertise from Ethiopia and Belgium.

    VLIR-UOS Cooperation

    What is VLIR-UOS?

    VLIR-UOS (Flemish Interuniversity Council – University Development Cooperation) a cornerstone of Belgian Development Cooperation funded by the DGD, fosters academic partnerships between Flanders and the Global South. It integrates advanced research with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to drive systemic transformation and build long-term academic and research capacity.

    What is CARES?

    The CARES Project is a collaboration between Addis Ababa University and the University of Antwerp, transforming Ethiopia's coffee regions into zero-waste hubs. By valorizing by-products into high-value goods like biogas, compost, and cosmetics, the project aims to boost local revenue by 30–40%. This biorefinery model strengthens economic resilience and establishes Ethiopia as a global leader in sustainable, high-margin coffee exports.

    The Problem

    Economic Powerhouse Angle

    • This historic growth in coffee sector injected a record-breaking $2.65 billion into the national economy.
    • The coffee sector is single-handedly driving nearly one-third of the nation’s total export value.

    Linear Economic Model

    • The industry relies on a traditional "take-make-dispose" system that fails to capture the hidden economic value.
    • Missing opportunities for secondary revenue within coffee side-streams.

    High Environmental Footprint

    • Current coffee processing generates massive amounts of biomass waste that are largely undervalued or discarded.
    • Conventional disposal of coffee by-products contributes to soil and water pollution.

    Limited Bio-Innovation

    • There is a critical gap between academic research and industrial application.
    • The current scenario fails to capture the hidden economic value within coffee sector.
    Framework

    Circular Economy Model

    ☕
    01

    Bean Harvest

    🍒
    02

    Specialty Coffee Advanced Processing

    🌍
    03

    Circular Agro-Energy & Earth Care

    🧪
    04

    Bio-Extracted Innovation Products

    🌱
    05

    Soil Enrichment

    🌾
    06

    Better Crops

    SMART Objectives

    Project Goals

    • Assess socio-economic impacts on coffee farmers and cooperatives
    • Build local capacity through PhD training and knowledge transfer
    • Establish gender-inclusive and youth-focused extension programs
    • Develop Premium Valorization Procedures & Specialty Coffee Advanced Processing
    • Circular Agro-Energy & Earth Care through biorefinery and treatment technologies
    • Bio-Extracted Innovation Products from Coffee wastes and residues
    Structure

    Work Packages

    WP1

    Project Coordination

    Lead: Belgium Promoter, UAntwerp & Ethiopian Promoter CTBE-AAU

    WP2

    Specialty Coffee advanced Processing

    Lead: CTBE-AAU

    WP3

    Waste Valorization and Biorefinery

    Lead: UAntwerp

    WP4

    Bio-Extracted Innovation Products

    Lead: CTBE-AAU

    WP5

    Socio-Economic Assessment, Dissemination and Policy

    Lead: UAntwerp & CTBE-AAU