Across Latin America and the Caribbean, smallholder farmers face growing challenges — from rising climate risks and unpredictable weather to limited market access and outdated farming practices. Yet, this same region is bursting with innovation, and a new wave of Agtech entrepreneurs is working to offer critical solutions to the agricultural sector.

This initiative, launched in 2023 with support from IDB Lab, the innovation and venture capital arm of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, and the Smallholder Sustainability Upscaling Programme (SSNUP), is here to accelerate that change. With a mix of grant funding, technical assistance, and regional collaboration, the project, which is coordinated by Incofin Foundation, the social impact branch of Incofin Investment Management (Incofin IM), supports cutting-edge digital solutions that help smallholder farmers improve their productivity, adapt to climate change, and access new opportunities.

From mobile apps for tractor rentals to precision farming tools and hyper-local weather forecasts, these solutions are designed not in Silicon Valley — but often right in the region, by local startups and organizations who know the needs on the ground. The project focuses on scaling these tools and connecting them with the farmers who can benefit most.

This platform offers a window into the initiative: a growing portfolio of supported ventures, real-world stories from the field, and updates on what’s working, and what’s not! — and what we’re learning along the way. Whether you’re a policymaker, investor, farmer, or just curious, we invite you to explore how digital innovation is transforming agriculture across the region — one smart idea at a time.

Key Partners 

Coordination:

Incofin Foundation is a private foundation dedicated to making a positive contribution by increasing the scale and financial return of social investments. It was established by Incofin Investment Management (Incofin IM), a leading international impact fund manager headquartered in Belgium. Incofin Foundation is the overall coordinator of this agtech initiative. 
www.incofin.com 

Incofin IM is an independent, employee-owned firm, born in Belgium and powered by diverse teams deeply rooted in the regiones where we invest. Since 1992, we’ve grown with integrity-guided by practical thinking, honest relationships, and a spirit of enterprise. Today, we manage a range of impact funds for institutions and individuals, in partnership with trusted asset managers who share our purpose.

Funding sources:

IDB Lab is the innovation and venture capital arm of the Inter-American Development Bank Group. We discover new ways to drive social inclusion, environmental action and productivity in Latin America and the Caribbean. IDB Lab leverages financing, knowledge and connections to support early-stage entrepreneurship, foster new technologies, activate innovative markets and catalyze existing sectors.
www.idblab.org 

SSNUP works to boost the productivity and resilience of smallholder farmers in Africa, Latin America, and Asia through better risk management and the promotion of climate-smart, sustainable practices. It aims to improve food security and livelihoods for up to 10 million smallholder households, while supporting the development of sustainable agricultural value chains. SSNUP is funded by the governments of Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. It is coordinated by Appui au Développement Autonome (ADA), which facilitates knowledge sharing and the dissemination of best practices among participating investors and partners.
www.ada-microfinance.org/en/ssnup 

More information about the SSNUP funders and ADA:

Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg: Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs and Luxembourg Development Agency

The main objective of Luxembourg’s development cooperation is to contribute to the eradication of extreme poverty and to promote economic, social and environmental sustainability. It champions a multi-stakeholder approach aligned with the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, with particular emphasis on fostering equal opportunities and protecting the rights of the most vulnerable populations.

Operational implementation is entrusted to LuxDev, which also represents the government in the selection committees of the SSNUP.

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) 

SDC is the Directorate for international cooperation and humanitarian aid of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland. Its mission is to reduce poverty, foster sustainable development, and strengthen economic and institutional self-reliance in partner countries.

The Liechtenstein Development Service (LED)

LED is entrusted by the Government of Liechtenstein with the implementation, coordination and monitoring of bilateral development cooperation. The Liechtenstein development cooperation is geared towards the sustainable and comprehensive development of disadvantaged and marginalized regions of the world, especially rural and structurally weak regions.

Appui au développement autonome (ADA)

ADA is a Luxembourgish NGO which plays a leading role in the inclusive finance sector internationally. Since 1994, ADA has been working to develop microfinance services in favor of populations excluded from the conventional banking circuits. It has supported microfinance institutions, governments, and networks in developing tailored financial solutions for underserved populations. ADA also provides training, research, and strategic guidance in nearly 40 countries across Latin America, West Africa, and Southeast Asia.

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