With the aim of further strengthening the innovation system in the agri-food sector of Latin America and the Caribbean, FONTAGRO held the first webinar in the "From Science to Business" series. This initiative seeks to highlight outstanding projects in the region, attract funding opportunities, and establish connections between stakeholders in the scientific field and the private sector, with the goal of promoting sustainable development in the region.

The event, moderated by Eugenia Saini, Executive Secretary of FONTAGRO, featured the participation of Mayco Mansilla, Managing Partner and expert in agri-food business, and Patricio Fernández, Business Development Leader, both from Innventure, a fund where producers, companies, and investors collaborate to transform global agro-food chains through investments in startups. Together, they highlighted key aspects:

- Innovation and Growth: Startups in LAC demonstrate exponential growth and a proven ability to tackle real problems through innovative technological solutions in the agro-food sector.

- Collaboration Networks: It is important to continue establishing strong networks of producers, institutions, and companies in the sector, enabling the validation and scaling of solutions in the main agro-industrial hubs of Latin America and the Caribbean.

- Investment Opportunities: Connecting scientific agents with the private sector allows for the offering of a portfolio of high-impact startups, ensuring lower risks and greater opportunities for return on investment.

- Global Impact: The initiatives promoted by FONTAGRO and Innventure are aligned with global trends of digitalization and sustainability, facilitating access to innovation and contributing to the competitiveness of the agro-food sector in the region.

The first webinar of the "From Science to Business" initiative marks the beginning of a series of meetings that FONTAGRO plans to conduct in order to foster continuous dialogue between researchers and private sector actors, connecting scientific potential with market needs.

Watch the recording of this event here.