Chile launches 2026 innovation funding call for agri-food projects

Chile has opened a new call for private-sector innovation projects aimed at developing and testing early-stage technologies for agriculture, forestry and the national agri-food chain.

According to Frutas de Chile, the Agricultural Innovation Foundation, FIA, will support projects that already have a validated experimental proof of concept and need to move towards higher levels of technological validation.

The call is focused on proposals that can generate objective experimental evidence, functional prototypes, measurable technical parameters and adjusted processes before being tested in real operating conditions.

Projects may last up to 15 months and are expected to start in the first quarter of 2027. FIA will provide up to CLP 50 million per project, covering up to 80% of the total cost. Applicants must finance at least the remaining 20% through cash or non-cash contributions.

FIA executive director Andrés Gálmez said the programme follows the Ministry of Agriculture’s goal of strengthening innovation in response to the needs of farmers, agricultural companies and the wider agri-food chain.

He noted that agriculture is Chile’s second-largest export activity after mining, represents 11% of expanded GDP and employs around 6% of the population. However, the sector’s innovation rate has fallen from 14.7% to 9.3%.

Applications are open from May 26 to June 25, 2026, until 15:00. Questions can be submitted until June 18.

source and graphics: frutasdechile.cl