Africa has the second largest bamboo resource globally after China, with some 3.5 million hectares, spread across 12 countries. More than a third of this resource is found in Ethiopia, comprising two species: lowland bamboo (70%) and highland bamboo (30%). The properties of highland bamboo make it an excellent raw material for producing natural fiber composite panels that in turn can be finished into myriad products. Ethiopia's bamboo resources are currently underutilized with no significant value addition for local people, business enterprises, government, export earnings, or the broader economy. Conversely, markets in developed nations are looking for natural, sustainable, and aesthetically pleasing products for which consumers are willing to pay a premium.
African Bamboo (AB) aims to capitalize on this business opportunity by bringing bamboo-based products to market that provide a natural and sustainable alternative to plastics, cement, metal, and tropical hardwoods. It will achieve this by:

1. Designing, developing, patenting, and marketing sustainable products manufactured from highland bamboo;
2. Opening up business opportunities for Africa's entrepreneurs and Micro, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises; and
3. Driving positive environmental and social change in rural communities across sub-Saharan Africa linked to our forestry sites.