Key Takeaways
- World Agri-Tech Mexico will spotlight these models and their role in transforming food systems.
- Smallholder farmers in Mexico and Central America are gaining new access to credit through agri-fintech innovation and public-private collaboration.
- Fintechs like Verqor are digitizing the lending process, offering approvals in under 72 hours and repayment aligned with crop cycles.
- Development banks, including FIRA, emphasize risk-reduction tools such as guarantees, crop insurance, and contract farming.
- Digital platforms, satellite imagery, and advisory tools are complementing financial access with productivity gains.
World Agri-Tech Mexico to Highlight Financing Challenges
Ahead of World Agri-Tech Mexico in Mexico City (October 28–29, 2025), industry leaders are underscoring how fintech-driven solutions are reshaping financial access for smallholder farmers in Mexico and Central America. Long underserved by traditional banking, these farmers are now benefiting from data-driven lending, faster approvals, and collaborative frameworks linking capital to markets.
Fintech Speed, Simplicity, and Smarter Data
“Farmers can’t wait 30 or 60 days for a bank to decide. We approve in less than 72 hours, making us the fastest option in the market,” said Hugo Garduño, CEO of Verqor.
Verqor’s digital model enables farmers to submit documents, track applications, and communicate via WhatsApp. Repayments are aligned with crop cycles, reducing financial stress, while advanced scoring integrates satellite imagery, geolocation, and buyer contracts to evaluate real capacity beyond bureau scores.
“Our model opens the door to farmers who would otherwise be excluded from formal credit, making access both safer and more inclusive,” Garduño added.
De-Risking with Innovation
Alan Elizondo, General Director at FIRA, emphasized the role of risk management in smallholder finance. “Credit and guarantee products are essential in enabling smallholders to access finance, alongside risk-mitigation mechanisms such as crop insurance, price hedging, and contract farming schemes,” he said.
Sustainability-linked incentives, such as lower interest rates for adopting eco-friendly practices and green bonds, are also emerging as tools to mobilize resources and encourage adoption of new technologies.
Beyond Finance: Linking Farmers to Markets
Both Garduño and Elizondo noted that profitability depends not only on access to credit but also on market opportunities.
“At Verqor, we connect producers directly with exporters and retailers who need reliable suppliers,” said Garduño.
Elizondo pointed to the role of public programs in building infrastructure to scale access, including digital marketplaces and logistic hubs.
Building a Collaborative Ecosystem at World Agri-Tech Mexico
Speakers emphasized the importance of systemic collaboration between fintechs, banks, and governments.
“Collaboration needs to start with public institutions expanding guarantee programs and investing in digital infrastructure,” said Garduño.
Elizondo added: “Successful collaboration means co-creating solutions where fintechs push innovation, banks provide scale, and public programs foster the enabling environment.”
As World Agri-Tech Mexico approaches, the conversation around smallholder finance highlights a structural shift toward faster, more inclusive, and more resilient financial ecosystems — one with implications for food security across Latin America and beyond.
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