ANTIGUA DIGEST

The FONTAGRO 2026 Agri-Food Innovation Call is a competitive regional funding opportunity designed to support collaborative research and innovation projects that strengthen agricultural productivity, sustainability, and resilience across Latin America and the Caribbean. 

The program is implemented by FONTAGRO, a regional mechanism co-financed by member countries and development partners to promote agricultural innovation and knowledge sharing. The program seeks regional research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) projects that increase agricultural productivity while reducing environmental impact. Proposals should demonstrate clear potential for real-world adoption and regional scalability and also be aligned with one of the program’s strategic flagship innovation themes.

This call focuses on advancing solutions that address key challenges in the agri-food sector, including climate change adaptation, food security, sustainable resource management, and the adoption of innovative technologies. Projects are expected to generate practical, scalable solutions that benefit farmers, agribusinesses, and rural communities while improving the efficiency and competitiveness of agricultural systems.

A key requirement of the program is multi-country collaboration, meaning proposals must involve institutions from at least two participating member countries. These partnerships typically include research institutions, universities, agricultural organizations, and public or private sector stakeholders working together to develop and implement innovative approaches.

Projects that are selected receive grant funding along with technical support, monitoring, and opportunities to share results across the region. Emphasis is placed on knowledge transfer, capacity building, and ensuring that project outcomes can be replicated or adapted in other countries.

Overall, the FONTAGRO 2026 call aims to strengthen regional cooperation, accelerate innovation in agriculture, and support sustainable agri-food systems that can respond effectively to evolving environmental and economic challenges.

Selected projects will be evaluated between April and May 2026, with winners expected to be announced between July and August 2026.

Who Can Apply

Eligible applicants include:

• Universities

• Agricultural research institutions

• NGOs

• Public research organizations

• Innovation consortia

• Public-private partnerships

Projects must involve institutions from at least two countries in Latin America or the Caribbean.

Eligible Activities

Projects may include:

• Climate-smart agriculture technologies

• Sustainable farming innovations

• Digital agriculture solutions

• Agricultural productivity research

• Food system sustainability initiatives

• Regional agri-food innovation pilots

Funding and Terms

• FONTAGRO provides co-financing, meaning projects must include counterpart funding from partner institutions or other funding sources.

• Grants support regional Research, Development and Innovation (R&D&I) initiatives focused on improving agricultural productivity and sustainability.

• Projects must align with FONTAGRO Flagship Programs under the 2025–2030 Medium-Term Plan.

• Applications must be submitted as complete project proposals with Word and Excel documentation.

• The program uses a single-phase submission process, with evaluation taking place after the deadline and project selections announced later in 2026.

Application Requirements

Applicants must submit:

• Official project proposal (Word format)

• Budget tables (Excel format)

• Consortium partnership documentation

• Institutional commitment letters

• Detailed implementation plan

Eligible Countries

Projects must involve institutions from FONTAGRO member countries, which include:

• Argentina

• Bolivia

• Chile

• Colombia

• Costa Rica

• Dominican Republic

• Ecuador

• Honduras

• Nicaragua

• Panama

• Paraguay

• Peru

• Spain

• Uruguay

• Venezuela

Projects must include partners from at least two eligible countries to form a regional research consortium.

Key Steps for Applicants

1. Form a regional consortium.

2. Review the call guidelines and flagship themes.

3. Develop the project proposal and budget.

4. Register the proposal on the FONTAGRO submission system.

5. Submit the completed project before April 20, 2026.

Additional Notes for Applicants

1. Projects must demonstrate measurable regional impact.

2. Collaboration between countries strengthens proposals.

3. Sustainability and climate resilience are key priorities.

4. Early consortium planning is recommended.

5. Projects should include clear scaling potential.

6. Strong institutional partnerships improve funding chances.

Learn More

• Main Call Information:

Information that will enable a clear understanding of what is needed to submit a successful proposal: https://fontagro.org/en/iniciativas/convocatorias/convocatoria-2026

• Presentation & Instruction Call for Application 2026

A YouTube video that will make available through a visual presentation: https://www.youtube.com/live/sPBkSd5z9JE

🌴 Antigua Digest Note 

Agriculture remains one of the Caribbean’s most important economic sectors. This opportunity is ideal for universities, agricultural organizations, and regional research teams seeking funding to develop solutions that strengthen food security and climate resilience across the region applicants.

Collaborations involving Caribbean partners such as Antigua and Barbuda institutions could benefit significantly from this large regional funding opportunity.

Need Help Applying?

Antigua Digest offers support services for individuals, entrepreneurs, non- profit organizations and MSMEs seeking grant funding.

We can assist you with:

• Project concept development and alignment with grant criteria

• Proposal writing (narrative, budget, logical framework)

• Review of eligibility and compliance with terms

• Submission monitoring and follow-up

Contact us at admin@antiguadigest.com for tailored assistance with your submission.