GEORGETOWN — IDB Lab, the innovation and venture arm of the Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Group), and the University of Guyana’s Institute of Food and Nutrition Security (IFANS) launched an initiative to bring precision agriculture, artificial intelligence (AI), and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to smallholder farmers across the country’s Amazon Basin.

The “Smart Farming for Sustainable Development in Guyana” project will support 25,000 farmers through digital tools, training programs, and innovative agricultural solutions designed to improve productivity, optimize the use of natural resources, and strengthen agricultural resilience. The initiative will work closely with indigenous communities and smallholder producers, helping expand access to technology and new capabilities linked to agricultural development and food systems innovation.

Agriculture continues to play an important role in Guyana’s economy and rural livelihoods, particularly for indigenous communities. However, many producers still face challenges related to productivity, limited access to technology, and resource management. In this context, the project seeks to explore how digital innovation can strengthen agricultural practices while creating new opportunities linked to production and the bioeconomy by integrating AI, satellite imagery, and IoT-enabled technologies to support practical field demonstrations and technical training for farmers and local experts.

The initiative is implemented by the University of Guyana’s IFANS with support from IDB Lab and backing from the Amazon Bioeconomy Fund and the Green Climate Fund, as part of broader efforts under to the Amazonia Forever regional initiative.

The project also reflects a growing opportunity for the region: leveraging innovation and technology to help strengthen new productive models connected to agriculture, food systems and security, and the bioeconomy across the Amazon Basin.
 

About IDB Lab 

IDB Lab is the innovation and venture arm of the Inter-American Development Bank Group.  We focus on entrepreneurship and technology to cocreate solutions for development challenges and spark new industries for growth in Latin America and the Caribbean. IDB Lab supports high-impact startups and the innovation ecosystems they need to thrive through flexible financing, practical knowledge, and global connections. www.idblab.org