Scaling to Transform: The Collective Power of the Region for a Sustainable Future

By Daniela Arce Gómez,Communications Coordinator, Climate Action Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) at the Alliance of Bioversityand CIAT, and regional communications focal point for the CGIAR Scaling for Impact program in LAC; Ana Carolina Rodríguez,Scaling Innovation Specialist (CIP-Peru); and Juan Sebastián Rivas,Senior Research Associate.

In the world of agricultural research and food systems, there is a challenge that goes beyond generating new technologies: how can we ensure innovations truly reach the people who need them and transform lives in a fair, inclusive, and sustainable way?

That is precisely the purpose of the CGIAR Scaling for Impact (S4I) program,a global initiative that seeks to ensure that solutions developed by its centers and partners do not remain as pilots or isolated cases, but instead scale responsibly, considering not only technical feasibility but also the social, economic, institutional, and environmental factors that determine their long-term success.

On August 18 and 19, at the International Potato Center (CIP)v in Lima, Peru, this challenge took the form of dialogue, learning, and co-creation. Nearly twenty participants from the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT-Colombia, CIP-Peru, and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT-Mexico)gathered to answer a question as simple as it is transformative: why and how should we scale in Latin America?

Why does Latin America need its own approach to scaling innovations?

Latin America and the Caribbean is a region as diverse as it is complex. While it enjoys immense cultural, social, and environmental wealth, it also faces urgent and measurable challenges related to poverty, climate vulnerability, and migration. For example, one in three people live in poverty (32.3%), and more than one in ten (11.5%) live in extreme poverty (ECLAC, 2024). Climatically, the region is among the most exposed in the world: countries like Honduras, Guatemala, and Haiti rank among the most vulnerable to extreme disasters (Germanwatch, 2025; ND-GAIN, 2023), while globally, current emission trends point to a temperature rise of 2.6°C to 3.1°C by the end of the century (UNEP, 2024). At the same time, international migration from the region exceeds 45 million people (IOM, 2024). In this context, implementing scaling models designed for other latitudes-especially from the Global North-rarely works.

Solutions must be born from or adapted to the territory, taking into account factors such as geography, culture, social structures, community decision-making processes, and the knowledge passed down through generations. Many call this "tropicalizing": translating ideas and methods so they fit the reality and heartbeat of our people.

In this context, scaling does not simply mean replicating technologies in more places. It means creating an entire ecosystem to sustain them:

• Strong alliances that connect researchers, governments, businesses, communities, and other key actors in scaling.

• Mutual trust among all stakeholders, because without respectful relationships, there is no lasting change.

• Active inclusion of women and youth, so that development is truly equitable.

• Commitment to environmental sustainability, protecting the resources that ensure our future.

In other words, in Latin America, scaling is not just about growing in numbers-it's about growing with purpose, rooted in local realities and focused on the well-being of present and future generations. With this understanding, and with the goal of identifying the most strategic next steps to bring contextualized innovations to more people and territories, this gathering became a key space for sharing experiences, learning collectively, and mapping roadmaps that address the region's specific challenges and opportunities.

Day 1: From Theory to Practice

The first day began with a journey into the origins of scaling at CGIAR, led by Deissy Martínez-Barón (Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT - Colombia).She clearly reminded participants why the S4I program was created: to move away from the linear vision of "disseminating technologies" and embrace a more systemic approach, where "scaling is not just about spreading technology-it's about ensuring solutions reach people and improve lives."

Next, Katharina Schiller (CIMMYT - Mexico)reflected on traditional models and presented the Scaling Scan, a simple yet powerful tool for identifying bottlenecks and deciding on the next steps in each context.

In the afternoon, Willy Pradel (CIP - Peru)and Andrea Castellanos (Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT - Colombia)introduced the Scaling Readiness approach, which measures the maturity and use of an innovation. To bring theory into practice, Gabriela Burgos and Jorge Andrade-Piedra (CIP - Peru) applied these concepts to biofortified potatoes, a concrete example of how an everyday food can help combat anemia and improve nutrition in vulnerable communities.

Day 2: Inspiration and Regional Collaboration

The second day began with teamwork to design scaling roadmaps, thinking about how to take innovations beyond the pilot stage to achieve real impact.

Carolina Rodríguez (CIP-Peru)highlighted how CGIARhas evolved toward responsible and inclusive scaling, able to anticipate social and environmental risks. Then, Trent Blare (CIP-Ecuador) shared an experience integrating Indigenous women into agroecological value chains, showing that scaling is also a tool for inclusion and empowerment.

The session "Regional Collaboration for Scaling - Latin America in Focus"showcased valuable experiences from across the region:

• Alliance of Bioversity & CIATand the Local Technical Agroclimatic Committees, which turn data into actionable decisions for rural communities in 11 countries.

• FAOand its Farmer Field Schools, where learning together transforms agriculture.

• GIZand the Resilient Puna Project, combining ancestral knowledge, multi-level governance, and innovative financing to tackle climate change in the Andes, along with the work of Valeria Biffi on integrating gender approaches into the NDCs.

• WHH and its Multi-Actor Platforms, which drive policy change and strengthen food security in Peru and Bolivia.

• CIMMYTand its Innovation Hubs, spaces where farmers, scientists, and businesses co-create sustainable solutions.

• CIP,reminding us that when a potato is designed to nourish, it can improve the health of millions.

The sessions closed with a "World Café", rotating between tables and hearing different perspectives. It was the moment when learnings intertwined, making it clear that scaling is not just a technical exercise, it is, above all, a human process built collectively.

A Collective Commitment

As the auditorium doors closed, it was clear this gathering had left much more than roadmaps or technical notes: it left a deep conviction. Latin America needs to chart its own scaling paths-flexible, inclusive, sustainable, and attuned to the diversity of contexts that shape it.

Responsible scaling is not just a methodology; it is a commitment to people, the planet, and equity. Innovations come to life when they connect with the stories, knowledge, and dreams of those who drive them. The region has the talent, experience, and creativity to make it happen-provided there is collaboration.

Next Stop: Scaling Week in Latin America and the Caribbean

This workshop was just the beginning. The conversation and learning will continue during the Scaling Week in Latin America and the Caribbean(September 29 - October 3, 2025), organized by the Alliance of Bioversity & CIAT,the CGIAR Scalingfor Impact program, CIP, and CIMMYT. It will be a virtual space to strengthen capacities and share tools that foster inclusive, sustainable, and climate-adapted scaling.

The invitation is open: by joining efforts, innovations can transform the region's and the world's agrifood systems, without leaving anyone behind.

Registration link: Register for Scaling Week in Latin America and the Caribbean

Sources:

CEPAL. (2024). Anuario Estadístico de América Latina y el Caribe 2024. Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe. https://www.cepal.org/es/publicaciones/81296-anuario-estadistico-america-latina-caribe-2024-statistical-yearbook-latin

Germanwatch. (2025). Global Climate Risk Index 2025. Germanwatch e.V. https://www.germanwatch.org/en/cri

ND-GAIN. (2023). Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index (Country Index). University of Notre Dame. https://nd_gain_countryindex_technicalreport_2024.pdf

OIM. (2024). World Migration Report 2024. Organización Internacional para las Migraciones. https://worldmigrationreport.iom.int/

PNUMA. (2024). Emissions Gap Report 2024. Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Medio Ambiente. https://www.unep.org/resources/emissions-gap-report-2024