By Erika Molina

Food security has become one of the most urgent challenges for Latin America, even in regions with enormous productive capacity. The Southern Cone, recognized as one of the most fertile agricultural territories in the world, faces a persistent paradox: according to the FAO, in 2023 more than 110 million people in the region experienced moderate or severe food insecurity, reflecting the difficulty of consistently accessing nutritious foods.

Against this backdrop, the first edition of the FoodRise Acceleration Program—an initiative led by Eatable Adventures with the support of IDB Lab—marks a decisive step in building an innovation ecosystem capable of transforming food production and access in the Southern Cone. The program combines specialized training, mentorship from global experts, technological validation in real environments, investor connections, and the possibility of securing investments of up to USD 100,000, with a strong focus on vulnerable populations and the consolidation of a collaborative regional community.

FoodRise positions itself as an innovation hub that integrates technology, knowledge, and impact to accelerate the transition toward more sustainable, healthy, and resilient food systems. Its presence in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Chile enables the creation of a regional network that strengthens entrepreneurial talent and supports solutions capable of addressing the most critical challenges in the Agrifoodtech sector.

In this first edition, twelve startups were selected for their potential to strengthen food security from different angles: water optimization, bioconservation, crop protection, soil regeneration, artificial intelligence applied to agriculture, circular economy, and reduction of antibiotic use in aquaculture.

Selected Startups

• Aquit (CHI): Preventive treatments for fish infections that reduce antibiotic use in the industry.
• Arakion (ARG): Insecticides inspired by arachnid venoms and optimized with AI, effective against resistant pests and safe for the environment.
• BeCaps (ARG): Protects beneficial microorganisms using microencapsulation technology.
• BioBlends (ARG): Produces biopreservatives through bacteria to revolutionize food preservation.
• Hydrix Agritech (ARG): Develops a hydrogel that improves irrigation efficiency and nutrient availability.
• MicroIN (ARG): Platform that creates cellular protection strategies to apply beneficial microorganisms in foods and other products.
• M4Life (ARG): The first bio-training of microorganisms that regenerates soils and increases productivity without deforestation.
• NanoInGreen (ARG): Natural ingredients produced with microorganisms for more nutritious and sustainable foods.
• Origen Bagazo (ARG): Transforms dried brewery spent grain into a nutritious and innovative ingredient.
• Smartsoil (PY): Uses artificial intelligence to predict crop diseases and increase grain production.
• Syocin Bio (ARG): Precision bactericidal proteins as a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides.
• ThermoReLEAF (ARG): Solutions that protect crops from damage caused by extreme temperatures.

This group of ventures marks the beginning of a sustained effort to strengthen food security through scalable, sustainable, and evidence-based solutions. As FoodRise continues to expand, its mission remains clear: to drive a regional innovation ecosystem that transforms the Southern Cone’s food system and accelerates the transition toward more equitable, resilient, and sustainable models.