The 13th iteration of the Virtual Agrifood Business Matchmaking Round has wrapped up with landmark results, drawing a record-breaking 701 agrifood industry stakeholders from across Latin America and the Caribbean and unlocking an estimated $25.5 million in new commercial opportunities for participating enterprises.
This annual virtual event is the product of a long-standing collaborative partnership between three major regional and international institutions: the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA). Launched in 2020, the ongoing initiative was designed with a clear core mission: to break down barriers to cross-border trade and strengthen the regional agrifood commerce ecosystem.
The 2026 event brought together a diverse cohort of businesses spanning the entire region. In addition to large representation from Central American nations, participants traveled virtually from key agrifood-producing markets including Argentina, Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru. Demographic breakdowns highlight the event’s inclusive focus: 38 percent of all participating companies are led by women, while entrepreneurs under the age of 40 head 46 percent of participating firms. The majority of attendees, 68 percent, are micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) – businesses that often struggle to access cross-border market connections on their own.
Trade activity at this year’s round was led by high-demand fresh produce, with fresh fruits and vegetables accounting for the largest share of buy-sell transactions. Coffee and cocoa took the second spot as the most actively traded products, alongside other offerings ranging from value-added prepared foods and nutrient-dense healthy snacks to specialized industry services including transportation and logistics, and advisory support for meeting international food quality and safety standards. Beyond immediate transactions, the event also served as a critical networking hub, allowing enterprises to forge new long-term strategic partnerships and scope out untapped customer bases in new regional markets.
Since the virtual matchmaking series launched six years ago, cumulative participation has reached 7,385 supplier companies from across Latin America and the Caribbean. Post-event surveys compiled by IICA show the initiative has generated a total of $309.7 million in projected business opportunities to date, marking consistent growth in both participation and impact with each successive round.
Edith Flores de Molina, Director of SIECA’s Center for Studies on Economic Integration (CEIE), emphasized that the ongoing success of the series underscores the tangible economic value of expanding regional integrated trade. “The results achieved through the thirteen business rounds held to date demonstrate that this type of event promotes regional trade within a framework of inclusion and competitiveness,” Flores de Molina said. “They also enable companies to strengthen commercial ties beyond national borders, expanding their business networks and opening new market opportunities.”
Daniel Rodríguez, a representative from IICA’s Directorate of Technical Cooperation, noted that the steady year-over-year rise in participation confirms the event has cemented its status as one of the region’s premier platforms for connecting across the agrifood supply chain. The event brings together producers, large and small agribusinesses, industry service providers, and commercial buyers into one accessible virtual space, filling a gap in market access for smaller operators.
Pablo Rabczuk, Senior Programme Officer involved in the initiative, added that virtual matchmaking tools address a critical need for MSMEs looking to expand their regional footprint. “Tools such as virtual business matchmaking rounds are essential to encourage companies across the region to invest in regional markets,” Rabczuk said. “At a time of heightened global volatility, there is significant room for growth within the region, and this opportunity should be seized.”