The story of Ethiopia’s rapid transition from a major wheat importer to a self-sufficient producer has been brought to the screen in a new documentary produced by Los Angeles-based Ethiopian filmmakers.

The film, which premiered this week, chronicles the "wheat revolution" initiated in 2018 under the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. It documents a historic economic pivot: for decades, Ethiopia spent upwards of $1 billion annually to import wheat. Today, by aggressively expanding large-scale irrigation, the country has largely phased out those imports through domestic production.

Focusing on agricultural hubs in the Oromia, Afar, and Amhara regions, the documentary aims to reshape Ethiopia’s international image. By moving away from the narrative of food aid dependency, the producers hope to showcase a new era of "national capability" to a global audience.

Alongside the film's release, the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI) announced a new digital offensive to modernize the sector. In partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, the institute has launched "Agri-Learn," a digital platform designed to bring educated youth into the fold of commercial farming.

Dr. Mandefro Nigussie, Director General of the ATI, noted that the platform is intended to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and agribusiness. By providing young entrepreneurs with the tools to produce high-quality, high-volume crops, the initiative seeks to make Ethiopia’s agricultural output competitive in international markets.

The dual launch of the film and the digital platform underscores a broader national strategy to secure food sovereignty while positioning agriculture as a viable, tech-driven career path for the country's youth.