FoodRise hub has been launched by Eatable Adventures, a global Agrifoodtech accelerator, with the support of BID Lab, the innovation and venture capital arm of the Inter-American Development Bank Group, announced the launch of FoodRise, a new regional hub designed to transform the food system in the Southern Cone by connecting technology, collaboration, and impact.
The Southern Cone is one of the most productive food regions in the world, yet continues to face critical challenges in food access. According to the FAO, in 2023 more than 110 million people in Latin America suffered from moderate or severe food insecurity. Against this backdrop, Eatable Adventures and BID Lab are launching FoodRise as a strategic platform to deploy innovative solutions that strengthen food security in the region, with a special focus on vulnerable populations—such as women, children, and rural communities—who struggle to access nutritious food consistently.
Why FoodRise hub matters: A Hub with purpose and scalable impact
FoodRise is built around three strategic pillars: startup acceleration, industry engagement through innovative solutions, and ecosystem generation. By leveraging these pillars, the hub connects startups, corporations, governments, and investors across Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, and Paraguay to scale innovations that improve food production, preservation, distribution, and access.
Its first initiative will be the launch of an acceleration program for startups in the Southern Cone, focused on triple-impact solutions—economic, environmental, and social. The program will support ventures tackling critical sector challenges such as food shelf-life extension, waste and residue reduction, nutritional enhancement, development of healthier alternative ingredients, and optimization of processes, logistics, packaging, and retail.
Despite its vast productive capacity, Latin America attracts only 2% of global venture capital (World Bank) and continues to lag behind in innovation according to the 2024 Global Innovation Index. FoodRise aims to drive international investment into the region and help accelerate regulatory frameworks, turning the Southern Cone’s science and talent into scalable, sustainable solutions.
“With FoodRise, we are taking a decisive step forward in our mission to design the food system of the future. This hub not only brings together the key players of the ecosystem but also strengthens our commitment to Latin America as a strategic region for developing solutions with global impact. At Eatable Adventures, we believe in the power of innovation to turn challenges into opportunities, and with FoodRise we are activating a platform that unites science, talent, and investment to generate real, lasting impact in the global food system,” said Mila Valcárcel, Managing Partner at Eatable Adventures.
Erika Molina, Senior Specialist at BID Lab, commented: “At BID Lab we are committed to promoting innovative projects that address the world’s most pressing challenges. This initiative not only has the potential to improve food security, but also contributes significantly to the resilience of economies. It further highlights the crucial role that the entrepreneurial ecosystem can play in creating sustainable and scalable solutions. We firmly believe that by supporting entrepreneurs, we are investing in a more resilient and prosperous future for all.”
With FoodRise hub, the region is positioned to transform challenges into global opportunities.
About Eatable Adventures
Eatable Adventures, the leading Foodtech accelerator worldwide, strives to transform the food system prioritizing equality, health, sustainability, and resilience for all. By partnering with startups, corporations, governments, and investors, the company drives innovation from seed to table, embracing cutting-edge technological solutions in the Agrifood sector. With a thriving global presence, Eatable Adventures has achieved significant impact worldwide, boasting a vibrant community of 25,000 changemakers, 12 acceleration and incubation programs, over 70 corporate and government initiatives, and a €30M investment fund to support early-stage projects.
Each year, Eatable Adventures accelerates over 100 startups through its programs, driving the growth and consolidation of the Agrifoodtech ecosystem on a global scale.