San José, Costa Rica – A strategic alliance of leading institutions has launched a comprehensive initiative to revolutionize Costa Rica’s agricultural sector through technological innovation. The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), in partnership with the National Training Institute (INA), the Foreign Trade Promotion Agency (PROCOMER), and the Costa Rica–United States Foundation (CRUSA), recently convened the “Strengthening Costa Rica’s Agrifoodtech Ecosystem” event at IICA’s headquarters.
The gathering showcased ten pioneering startups demonstrating cutting-edge solutions designed to address critical challenges in productivity, sustainability, and efficiency within the agri-food industry. This collaborative effort forms part of the broader Agrifoodtech initiative, specifically designed to accelerate market entry for innovative solutions and support the expansion of emerging agricultural technology enterprises.
Lloyd Day, Deputy Director General of IICA, emphasized the global context driving these innovations: “Over the next 25 years, food production must double to meet worldwide demand. AgriTech startups will be absolutely pivotal in this endeavor. I maintain optimism that we can produce while protecting our planet—thanks to courageous individuals who study, invest, and make sacrifices to produce more with less.”
The event highlighted remarkable technological diversity across multiple domains. Biovenko presented biotechnology solutions for enhanced crop growth and pest management, while Ag Tech introduced nanotechnology applications to streamline agricultural processes. Digital transformation was represented by S&G Solutions’ integrated platform for agro-industrial operations management and ROSSMON’s artificial intelligence tools for early crop disease detection.
Mechanization and automation advances included Roldma Consultores’ modernization services and Green Xpo Lab’s integrated systems combining drone technology, satellite imagery, and data analytics for precision agriculture. The livestock sector saw innovations from H&A Química y Ambiente, offering comprehensive traceability platforms and sustainable agriculture consulting.
Circular economy solutions emerged through Innovaciones Circulares’ technology converting pig farm residuals into high-value fertilizers for degraded soils. Cultura Fungi showcased their family-operated venture producing agrochemical-free gourmet and medicinal mushrooms.
Byron Salas, CRUSA’s Executive Director, outlined three critical development areas: “First, our tremendous potential for innovation with global relevance; second, the need for an ecosystem that provides capital, prototyping models, and supportive policies; and third, the urgency of promoting women’s leadership in entrepreneurship by removing barriers to opportunity.”
Participants reported significant benefits from the acceleration program. Lizzy Retana, Biovenko co-founder, noted: “The program provided essential tools for fundraising and internationalization strategies.” Similarly, Ana Cristina Trejos of Cultura Fungi emphasized: “This initiative pushed us to consider global market expansion while offering unparalleled guidance on legal matters and capital acquisition.”
The event attracted over 100 participants and featured presentations demonstrating Costa Rica’s growing capacity for agricultural innovation that balances productivity with environmental stewardship.