Agribusiness in Latin America and the Caribbean is crucial in strengthening the regional economy. Characterized by its vast expanse of arable land, abundant natural resources and unique biodiversity, the agricultural sector contributed significantly to the region's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2021, representing 6.9% of the economy.
How can we help small beekeepers in Latin America and the Caribbean strengthen productivity and climate resilience? According to a recent IDB Invest evaluation of a pilot program in Mexico, by providing them with a combination of basic inputs and training. But most importantly, queen bees. Through this approach, producers managed to increase honey production, yields, and the number of hives in their colonies and adopted best practices in hive management, boosting resilience to future climate events.
Agrophotovoltaic production combines crop growing and/or animal husbandry practices underneath ground-mounted solar panels. By generating renewable energy, conserving water and making an efficient use of resources, it can open the way for a low-carbon, climate change-resilient future.
Agribusiness presents a great opportunity to increase value creation in a sector that is two to three times more effective at reducing poverty than any other, including manufacturing and services.
Latin America and the Caribbean is in prime position to step in and alleviate global food shortages as climate change looms as a global threat, particularly if the region leverages digital solutions, a new report developed by IDB Invest in collaboration with Accenture shows.
Food insecurity continues to rise. Agribusinesses in the region believe that stemming their food loss is a relevant issue and see opportunities to recover food that is currently thrown away.