Between 2024 and 2026, Innovatech 2.0 connected tech startups with 811 rural organizations. Photo by Avanzar Rural
PANAMA CITY, Panama--More than 32,000 rural households in Bangladesh, Bolivia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Peru are now using digital solutions developed by 15 tech startups to access markets and financial services, manage crops, trace their products and adopt more sustainable agricultural practices.
These are the results of Innovatech 2.0, an initiative supporting the transformation of rural economies. By developing new digital tools tailored to the needs of small-scale agricultural producers, the programme is driving economic growth, strengthening food security and helping society adapt to climate change.
Funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the European Union and implemented by the German Sparkassenstiftung for International Cooperation (DSIK), Innovatech 2.0 connected emerging technology companies with 811 rural organizations between 2024 and 2026, creating opportunities for small-scale producers to increase their productivity, strengthen their businesses and become better prepared for climate change. Nearly 17,000 women, more than 11,300 young people and 8,300 Indigenous Peoples participated in the programme.
“Building ecosystems where technology companies, producer organizations and development institutions work together is strategic to transforming rural economies. When innovation and investment reach the first mile of food systems, small-scale producers can create new opportunities, access markets and participate on better terms in an increasingly connected economy,” said Rocío Medina Bolívar, IFAD Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Innovatech 2.0 identified the needs of producer organizations and supported technology companies in adapting their digital tools to the challenges faced by producers. The solutions implemented included platforms connecting producers with buyers; tools for crop management, data and traceability; savings and financing services tailored to small-scale producers; digital training platforms; and new technologies applied to agrifood value chains.
