The Caribbean agrifood sector, largely driven by SMEs, is central to food supply and rural livelihoods but faces major pressures such as high import dependence, climate-related risks, food insecurity, and trade constraints.

In this context, agroecology is increasingly seen as a practical and flexible approach to strengthen resilience and sustainability by applying ecological principles like diversification, recycling, and the integration of local knowledge, many of which are already present in traditional farming systems across the region.

This webinar will explore how agroecological approaches can support Caribbean agrifood SMEs in improving productivity and resilience through real-world examples and practical tools. It will highlight SME experiences, discuss how these practices can be applied at farm and enterprise level, and identify key enabling conditions such as access to knowledge, finance, markets, and technical support.

More information: https://agrinnovators.org/innovation-session/caribbean-agrifood-business-session-n21/

Register: https://coleacp-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_THwmjzunQTKs45IJF2bI9Q#/registration 

The session will cover key principles, interception data, implementation tools, and concrete experiences from South African value chains.

📅 Tuesday, 05 May 2026
🕘 09:00–10:30 UTC
 Avalaible in English & French interpretation

Relevant for NPPOs, inspection teams, producers, packhouses, exporters and technical partners.

👉 Register here

La transformación digital del agro en las Américas sigue creciendo, y la Semana de la Agricultura Digital (SAD) del IICA se consolida como el principal espacio regional de diálogo, innovación y conexión del ecosistema agtech.

🌱 Desde su lanzamiento en 2022, la SAD reúne a startups, gobiernos, centros de investigación, universidades, fondos de inversión y organismos internacionales para impulsar soluciones digitales e inteligencia artificial aplicadas al sector agroalimentario.

📢 Ya está abierta la convocatoria para startups agtech
🗓️ Postulación: 29 de abril – 15 de junio
🌎 Solo para agtechs de las Américas
💡 15 startups serán seleccionadas para participar presencialmente con todos los gastos cubiertos

🔎 Áreas clave:
• Asistencia técnica y extensión rural
• Sanidad e inocuidad de alimentos
• Comercio internacional
• Resiliencia y conservación de recursos naturales
(+ soluciones con IA y biotecnología especialmente valoradas)

🤝 Un espacio único para visibilizar soluciones, conectar con actores clave del ecosistema y generar oportunidades reales de escalamiento.

📌 Postulación aquí:
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=UwE4LdB0gkKfNfPSAxIWXmg1g-jlozBKgm9YHa7YNQ9UMFBOMlBZRTRJMlc0WU8xNlY1RkJWOVdIVS4u

The World Food Forum has launched the World Food Forum Transformative Research Challenge (TRC) 2026, a global competition designed to empower young researchers and innovators to turn applied research into practical solutions for agrifood systems.

🌳Youth-led Research for Forest Restoration Prize
(Co-hosted with the FAO Forestry Division – NFO)

🌲Forest Monitoring Innovation Prize
(Co-hosted with the FAO Forestry Division – NFO)

🌿Unlocking Native Crops for Innovation in Protein Diversification
(Co-hosted with the Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein at the NC State University & the Good Food Institute)

📱Leveraging Public Data to Fight Hunger Prize
(Co-hosted with Tilburg University’s Zero Hunger Lab)

👨🌾Innovations for One Health–Driven Rural Transformation 

(Co-hosted by Nanjing Agricultural University and FAO Animal Production and Health Division (NSA) - One Health and Disease Control Branch (NSAH-CJW)) 

·         Research funding opportunities, including awards for top teams

·         Global visibility through the World Food Forum

·         Mentorship and technical guidance from FAO experts

·         Access to a global network of partners and leaders

We are pleased to introduce the International Research Consortium (IRC),  a unique platform bringing together researchers, private sector actors, policymakers, and development organisations to collaborate on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA).

🚀 Why does it matter?
Today, innovation in agrifood is often slowed by fragmented efforts and limited collaboration. The IRC aims to change this by creating a space where actors can connect, share knowledge, and co-develop solutions.

🤝 What to expect from IRC?

• Opportunities to connect with partners across Africa and Europe

• Access to knowledge, research, and innovation insights

• A platform to collaborate and shape future solutions

🌱 Whether you are a researcher, entrepreneur, or support organisation, the IRC opens new doors for collaboration and impact.

👉 Discover more: https://irc-ceafirst.org/

💬 Stay tuned! In the coming days, we will share more about:

• Benefits for researchers and businesses

• How to join the IRC

• Concrete opportunities for collaboration

#Agrinnovators #Innovation #Research #Agribusiness #FNSSA #Collaboration

Hence, there is the need for a consistent, deliberate and strategic intervention in capacity building for young girls and women to harness the potentials embedded in their internal and cultural skills in mitigating climate change and developing conscientious approaches for adaptation of climate change: considering the multiplier effect on the individual farmer, food security, national security and other social effect.

Exporters will increasingly be required to demonstrate:

• recyclability of packaging
• compliance with chemical safety requirements (e.g. PFAS)
• full documentation and traceability

👉 Non-compliance is no longer just a risk,  it can lead to delisting.

This raises critical questions for exporters and SMEs:

• Are you already preparing for these requirements?
• Do you have the necessary documentation in place?
• How are buyers supporting (or not supporting) this transition?

💬 Share your experience, ask your questions?

1. The first step in building a Climate -Finance Strategy is to Identify Climate Risks. Funders are very keen to classify and rate every agri-business as high risk, low risk or moderate risk. 

2. For any farming operation to be regarded as a high climate risk venture, the operations most times lack climate-resilience resources. Climate Smart Agriculture is a boost in seeking for climate financing because it lowers risk and improves production stability.

3. There are available lending Funders such as ARAF, GAFSP, CIF etc. but critically they ask questions beginning with how does the business tend to overcome climate shock?