FONTAGRO announces the Fourth Contest of successful cases of innovations in the bioeconomy, FONTAGRO Case Contest 2023. The objective of this contest is to identify and document successful experiences and lessons learned that contribute to a better understanding of how, through the process of innovation in the economy, the strengthening and transformation of agri-food systems in Latin America and the Caribbean.
FONTAGRO is a unique sustainable co-financing mechanism for the development of agricultural technology in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Spain, and establishes a forum for the discussion of priority issues of technological innovation.
The following categories will be awarded:
- Category I. Producer associations and other private sector organizations, including NGOs, that work with Latin America and Caribbean producers.
- Category II. Institutions and organisms of Science and Technology of Latin America and the Caribbean.
- Category III. Public sector (at all levels) of Latin America and the Caribbean.
FONTAGRO is a unique sustainable co-financing mechanism for the development of agricultural technology in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Spain, and establishes a forum for the discussion of priority issues of technological innovation.
The Vision of FONTAGRO is to be an internationally recognized mechanism of cooperation for strengthening sustainable agrifood and agribusiness innovation among member countries.
The Mission of FONTAGRO is to contribute to the innovation of family farming through cooperation among member countries while promoting competitiveness and food security based on standards of equity and sustainability.
The principles that frame FONTAGRO’s activities in the new MTP are set out below.
- INNOVATION: FONTAGRO continues to work with the broadest concept of innovation, including applied research, links to markets, social environments, generation and dissemination process management, an organization linking small farmers to value and information chains, strategic partnerships, and the use of different support mechanisms (such as calls for projects, joint projects, and small grants).
- INTERDISCIPLINARITY: The promotion of a comprehensive view and greater interaction among disciplines within consortia, including areas of knowledge outside the agricultural sciences, aiming to explore potentially innovative approaches to family farming.
- KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT: Taking advantage of the intellectual capital generated, FONTAGRO will be guided by a strategy aimed at (a) strengthening connections among researchers who have worked with FONTAGRO in the past, (b) systematizing knowledge generated through research supported by FONTAGRO’s investments, and (c) disseminating knowledge generated in different formats and for different audiences.
- PROSPECTIVE VISION: Given its nature and the importance of employing its resources efficiently, FONTAGRO will monitor trends continuously to adjust its strategic planning when circumstances demand it, and it will support prospective studies both for establishing state-of-the-art areas of knowledge and for promoting policies to boost agricultural innovation in the region.
- REGIONAL POSITIONING: The next five years will be used to consolidate a well-defined niche within the regional Center for Technology & Innovation system, promoting collaboration among organizations in member countries and with other countries.
- INSTITUTIONAL INCLUSION AND EXPANSION: FONTAGRO will use the consortium mechanism and the new thematic focus to strengthen the link between national research programs and other institutions and sectors, thus expanding innovation opportunities.
- IMPACT DEMONSTRATION: FONTAGRO will consolidate an innovative assessment scheme that transcends the impact of individual projects and exposes concrete progress in the region regarding poverty reduction, food security, and natural resources. These results shall become a cornerstone of FONTAGRO’s fiscal consolidation strategy.
- INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: Efforts that had already been initiated will be reinforced— respecting member country legislation—for consortia to be able to agree, a priori, on the protection or appropriation of knowledge generated when deemed necessary or relevant.
Benefits
- One special prize for each eligible category. (The prize includes an amount of money, participation in the final publication, and in the award celebration.)
Eligibilities
The following organizations are eligible to submit profiles:
- Producer organizations and/or private companies that work together with small farmers that operate in any IDB borrowing country, in Latin America, the Caribbean, and/or Spain.
- Any public or private research and/or development institution or organization such as universities, agricultural research centers, NGOs, etc. that operates in any IDB borrowing country, in Latin America, the Caribbean, and/or Spain and that has developed experiences in those countries, regardless of the source of financing.
- The public sector of any IDB borrowing country in Latin America and the Caribbean and/or Spain that has developed experiences in those countries.
Application Process
- Applicants will have to register an account on the FONTAGRO Case Contest official application portal to make the application. (Available on the apply link.)
- After completing an account registration, applicants will have to log in to the account and fill out the online application form along with submitting their case.
Application Deadline: June 16, 2023
Application ClosedOfficial link