Peru Aims to Be Global Agri-Food Supermarket, Beyond Primary Production
Peru is striving to transform itself from a mere food basket into a global agri-food supermarket, a vision championed at Agrofest 2026. This platform aims to connect agriculture with industry, technology, finance, markets, and knowledge, fostering collaboration among producers, businesses, entrepreneurs, academia, and institutions. The goal is to strengthen the sector's competitiveness and sustainable growth by adding value beyond primary production. Gonzalo Díaz Arias, general manager of TAKTO – Agrofest, emphasized that Peru should not only produce food but also transform, industrialize, and sell it with added value, innovation, identity, and international quality. The 2026 edition saw a 15% growth, attracting over 9,200 attendees, 240 exhibitors, and representatives from 16 countries. Business deals exceeded S/ 11.5 million during networking sessions. The event also featured a large market with 150 small and medium producers and academic activities for 380 students and young people, highlighting the link between innovation and production. Looking ahead to 2027, Agrofest plans to expand as an international business ecosystem with specialized pavilions, increased foreign participation, and dedicated spaces for R&D, innovation, sustainability, and food transformation. Díaz Arias described Agrofest as a national platform encouraging joint efforts from private, public, academic, and productive sectors to build a new vision for Peruvian agriculture, positioning the country as a competitive player in the global agri-food chain.
Agrofest's ambition to elevate Peru's role in the global agri-food sector from primary producer to a value-added processing and distribution hub reflects a strategic shift seen in many developing economies. This transition hinges on integrating technological advancements, sustainable practices, and robust market access to capture a larger share of the food value chain. The initiative's success will depend on navigating complex global supply chains, ensuring equitable benefit distribution among smallholder farmers, and fostering continuous innovation to meet evolving international consumer demands. The long-term viability of this 'agri-food supermarket' model requires sustained investment in infrastructure, research, and human capital, alongside policies that support domestic industrialization and international trade agreements that favor value-added exports.
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