The Oromia Agricultural Research Institute (IQQO) has been conducting agricultural research for more than 25 years, generating and disseminating proven technologies that have substantially enhanced agricultural productivity and improved farmers’ livelihoods across the region. Through extensive on-farm demonstrations and pre-scaling-up activities, the Institute has successfully promoted the adoption of improved agricultural technologies that address the needs of farmers, agro-industries, and markets.

Among the major achievements of the Institute are the development and release of improved crop and forage varieties officially approved by the National Variety Releasing Committee for commercial production and utilization. In the current year alone, the Institute released 35 new varieties, including 32 crop varieties and three forage varieties.

These newly released varieties are designed to contribute to food security, support agro-industrial development, promote export competitiveness, and substitute imported agricultural products. Compared to existing varieties under production, the new technologies provide at least a 10 percent productivity advantage. In addition, depending on their intended use and crop type, the varieties meet the required quality standards for food consumption, industrial processing, and export markets. The annual conference of the National Variety Release Committee was held from May 11–12, 2026. During the conference, candidate crop and forage varieties developed by various research institutions were thoroughly evaluated for their productivity, adaptability, resistance to major stresses, and quality attributes. Following detailed technical assessment and deliberation, the newly developed varieties were officially approved and released for production and utilization.