Red Fox Ethiopia PLC, a well-established flower farm operating under the global floriculture brand Dümmen Orange, has inaugurated Ethiopia’s first dedicated facility for producing beneficial insects. This marks a significant shift toward biological pest control within the horticulture sector.
The 50-million-birr facility, located at the company’s production site 98 kilometers southeast of Addis Ababa, will produce predatory mites, specifically Swirskii and Californicus mites. These mites are natural enemies of harmful pests that damage ornamental crops. Rather than relying on synthetic chemical pesticides, the farm will now breed and release these natural predators directly into its greenhouses, a practice known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
While Red Fox Ethiopia has utilized biological control methods for a decade, this is the first time the company has produced these agents in-house.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony on Tuesday, Yordanos Jemal, General Manager of Red Fox Ethiopia PLC, explained that importing beneficial insects had incurred significant foreign currency costs and resulted in losses due to transport from Europe.
She added, “The company has joined the Horti Footprint Chain Programme, which aims to help the entire ornamental horticulture supply chain become climate-positive by 2030.”
The new facility offers multiple benefits: it reduces reliance on chemical pesticides, protects the health of farm workers and surrounding communities, and lowers the risk of pesticide residue on export flowers, thereby helping Ethiopia comply with international market standards. Yordanos also noted that domestic production eliminates the need for air-freighted imports, reducing the industry’s CO₂ footprint.
“This facility is proof that nature, when respected and utilized wisely, is the most powerful tool we have,” she stated. “We are proud to lead this transformation in Ethiopia and invite the sector to follow.”
The inauguration was attended by Sofia Kassa, State Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, and Christine Pirenne, Ambassador of the Netherlands.
Diriba Kuma (Amb.), Director General of the Ethiopian Agriculture Authority (EAA), commended the initiative for supporting Ethiopia’s national goals for green agriculture and environmental sustainability. However, he also cautioned about increasing regulatory pressure from export destinations.
“Globally, the market is moving away from chemical pesticides,” Diriba said. “My advice to the horticulture and floriculture industries is to take a bold step toward transitioning to biological pest management systems—not only to comply with EU standards but also to ensure the sustainability of the industry and the environment.”
Tewodros Zewdie, Executive Director of the Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association, hailed the inauguration as a significant development for the sector. He urged research institutions to collaborate with farms, noting that the authority is currently drafting a legal framework to govern biological pest control and ensure the competitiveness of Ethiopian horticulture.
Established in 2003, Red Fox Ethiopia generates over €10 million in annual export earnings and has grown to become the largest farm within the Dümmen Orange network. Spanning 100 hectares, including 40 hectares of high-tech greenhouses, the facility annually exports over 120 million cuttings, stems, and tubers.
Dümmen Orange, the parent company headquartered in the Netherlands, is one of the world’s leading breeders and producers of ornamental plants.
