Trilateral Initiative Aims to Accelerate Science and Innovation for Global Food Resilience
Delegation of more than 20 global leaders representing seven countries to convene in St. Louis
ST. LOUIS, MO., January 29, 2026 –Agtech leaders from the United States, United Kingdom, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, and Mexico will gather in St. Louis February 2–6 to advance global collaboration on food security and sustainable agriculture through a new initiative, AgriTech for Resilience, Innovation & Sustainable Ecosystems (ARISE).
The delegation of more than 20 global leaders representing seven countries will connect science, technology and investment ecosystems through capability mapping, startup evaluation and high-impact knowledge exchange aimed at accelerating solutions that make agri-food systems more resilient, productive and climate-ready.
Launched in 2025, the ARISE trilateral platform is designed to foster long-term international cooperation in responsible innovation, shared research, and regenerative agriculture. The initiative is funded by the UK Government Tactical Fund and led by Agri-Tech-E with partners Agri TIERRA, Earthbase, Embrapa and The Yield Lab Institute (YLI). ARISE builds on the momentum of the St. Louis region’s Cultivar initiative and the World Trade Center St. Louis’s longstanding work, beginning with two agtech focused trade missions to Argentina in 2017 and the United Kingdom in 2019.
“ARISE is a direct result of the work of many to connect our region to global markets and innovation ecosystems,” said Tim Nowak, executive director, World Trade Center St. Louis. “By linking St. Louis with partners across the UK and Latin America, we’re extending that global engagement to accelerate agtech solutions with real impact.”
The Yield Lab Institute is serving as the strategic US partner coordinating the St. Louis segment of the global ARISE engagement, connecting ARISE with the Cultivar platform, and engaging research institutions, start-ups, investors and policy networks to strengthen trilateral collaboration. Cultivar links St. Louis to ecosystems across Latin America to foster research collaborations and commercial partnerships and was envisioned and launched by The Yield Lab LATAM, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, and the St. Louis agtech ecosystem five years ago.
“ARISE is the natural evolution of a vision our region has been building for years: that St. Louis can serve as a global bridge for agtech innovation across the Americas and beyond,” said Stephanie Regagnon, executive director, Yield Lab Institute. “Through Cultivar, we’ve demonstrated that trust-based, cross-border collaboration can unlock extraordinary outcomes and lasting partnerships. ARISE builds directly on that foundation by connecting science, startups, investors and policymakers across three continents to accelerate solutions the world urgently needs for resilient, climate-ready food systems.”
During their time in St. Louis, the delegation will be welcomed by dozens of regional leaders and organizations including St. Louis City Mayor Cara Spencer (invited), St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page, The Yield Lab Institute, the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, World Trade Center St. Louis, Greater St. Louis Inc., the Danforth Center, 39 North, BioSTL, Washington University, Bayer and many more. During a full week of programming the ARISE delegation will also engage with BioSTL’s ReACH Summit, take a deep dive on the region’s geospatial excellence hosted by GeoSTL, the Taylor Geospatial Institute and T-REX, engage with senior leaders at Bayer and spend dedicated time engaging with the 39 North AgTech Innovation District.
“St Louis is one of the leading global clusters of agri-tech innovation and it makes perfect sense that its ecosystem should be part of the ARISE program,” said Belinda Clarke, director, Agri-TechE. “There are existing deep relationships with St Louis, and this trip will build on the collaborative work conducted in Brazil in the first segment of the program and prepare for the culminating ARISE event in Cambridge, UK, in March.”
About the ARISE Opportunity:
- Accelerate science & innovation for global food resilience
Harness shared expertise in AI and Engineering Biology to enable future co-development of solution that make local & global agri-food systems more sustainable, productive and climate-ready. - Link world-class ecosystems for translational impact
Connect the research strengths of UK, US and Latin America to move innovation faster from lab to field and market. - Create new pathways for investment & market access
Build partnerships that open early-stage innovation pipelines, attract private capital and expand access to high-growth Agri-tech markets between the UK and the Americas. - Shape global standards for responsible technology
Collaborate on governance and regulation that position all three regions as leaders in ethical, science-based innovation for agriculture and One Health. - Strengthen trilateral leadership in climate & bioeconomy growth
Position the UK, US and LATAM as partners driving inclusive economic growth through regenerative, digitally enabled and science-led Agri-tech solutions.
About Agri-TechE
Agri-TechE is a UK-based independent membership organization. It has spent the last 12 years dedicated to advancing agricultural innovation and sustainability and has members in 13 countries globally.
About The Yield Lab Institute
A US-based non-profit organization that drives early-stage innovation in agri-food systems through open innovation, research and global ecosystem connectivity. YLI leads the Cultivar Initiative, linking the US and Latin America to foster sustainable Agri-tech collaboration and works closely with its regional affiliate Yield Lab LATAM to connect start-ups & investors across the Americas.
About AgriTIERRA
A UK-registered consultancy based in Latin America that builds science, innovation, & policy partnerships between the UK and the region across Agri-tech, sustainability and digital agriculture.
About Earthbase
A UK innovation intelligence and analytics platform that evaluates and accelerates high-impact technologies for food, climate and health systems.
About Embrapa
Brazil’s federal agricultural research corporation, internationally recognized for leadership in tropical agriculture, bioinputs and sustainable production systems. Within ARISE, it operates through Embrapa Environment, which focuses on bioinnovation, climate change and sustainable agri-food systems.
About the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
Founded in 1998, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is a nonprofit research institute with a mission to improve the human condition through plant science. The Center’s research, education and outreach efforts focus on food security and environmental sustainability, positioning the St. Louis region as a global leader in plant science. The Center is supported by funding from organizations such as the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Agriculture, The Gates Foundation and the generosity of individuals, corporation and foundation donors. For more information, visit danforthcenter.org.
Media Contacts:
Danforth Plant Science Center, Karla Roeber, kroeber@danforthcenter.org
Yield Lab Institute, Stephanie Regagnon, (314) 471-8408