Preparatory Workshops for the Scalability of Innovations in Honduras: Strengthening the Agri-Food Sector

Tegucigalpa, Honduras - November, 2024

Preparatory Workshops for the Scalability of Innovations in Honduras: Strengthening the Agri-Food Sector

In October 2024, the CGIAR Initiative "Transforming Food Markets and Value Chains for Inclusion and Sustainability" organized two workshops in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. These workshops, focused on the coffee and bean and maize value chains, respectively, brought together a diverse range of key stakeholders from the agrifood sector to discuss the scalability of several innovations assessed by the initiative, in the local and regional context.
 

Background: The challenge of scaling innovations in the food sector.

The food sector is a fundamental pillar of the economy of countries such as Honduras, generating income and employment for millions of people. However, it faces significant challenges in terms of sustainability and equity, with an urgent need to improve the livelihoods of a growing population, especially among the youth. In this context, this Initiative sought to address these challenges through the co-creation of innovations to strengthen food value chains.

Since 2022, the Initiative has worked with key local stakeholders to develop innovations in inclusive business models, improve product quality, and promote innovative logistical and financial solutions, through a series of studies and workshops organized in 2022 (coffee, basic grains), 2023 (coffee, basic grains) and 2024 (coffee, basic grains). The workshops organized in October 2024 were a fundamental step to share the results of the evaluations of these innovations and identify strategies for their scalability.

Workshop objectives

The workshops, held on October 22 (coffee) and 23 (beans and corn), brought together more than 100 participants, including representatives of development agencies, producer organizations, the financial sector, NGOs and the media, among others. The objectives were:

1. Improve knowledge sharing on innovative solutions for food systems.
2. Identify challenges and best practices to implement and scale innovations.
3. Develop strategies to promote the adoption of innovations at a scale through policy changes.
4. Evaluate the readiness and scalability of innovation models.

In each of the workshops, the dynamics included a combination of keynote presentations, group exercises, and information gathering through surveys. The workshop was co-organized by the Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Impact Assessment (MELIA) team and the local teams working on coffee and basic grains.

Workshop for scaling up innovations in the coffee chain

The first workshop focused on the coffee sector, one of Honduras' main exports. During this event, the innovations studied by the initiative to transform the coffee value chain, such as (i) intermediation markets, (ii) digital infrastructures, and (iii) typologies of women in the supply chain, were discussed in depth.

The sessions included presentations of results, where participants were able to learn about the progress and impacts of these three sets of innovations in the sector. One of the key points was the assessment of the scalability of the interventions and the design of strategies for their expansion, a central theme of the workshop. Through group discussions, participants identified scalable interventions, resources needed and supports to ensure effective large-scale implementation.

Workshop to scale up innovations in the Bean and Corn Chain

The second workshop was dedicated to beans and maize, key agricultural products for food security in Honduras. Innovations discussed included (i) the use of technical messaging via WhatsApp and on-site grain quality testing with producers, and (ii) market opportunities for processed bean and corn-based products.

As in the previous workshop, group exercises were carried out to identify scaling-up strategies, considering the impacts and commitments that this process could generate. In addition, possible forms of collaboration between key actors were discussed to ensure that these innovations have the greatest possible impact on the producing communities.

Key Results and Reflections on Scalability

Both workshops provided valuable insights into the scalability of innovations in the coffee, bean and maize sectors. To identify scalable innovations, a matrix describing key indicators, their scoring and description was used. In the Innovation Scalability column, various aspects are evaluated, such as the type of innovation (incremental, radical, disruptive), its attribute to determine its maturity, and the intervention requirements (timing, investment, resources, expected return). The expected impacts, such as poverty reduction, productivity improvement and job creation, are also analyzed. In addition, the context of each innovation addresses potential challenges and opportunities, highlighting the importance of adapting to regulatory changes and market demands. Preparing for scalability emphasizes stakeholder involvement and commitment, resource allocation and the investment needed to sustain the intervention. Overall, the scalability process depends on effective coordination, stakeholder buy-in and the ability to adapt to new challenges and market conditions. To determine the potential for scalability, both the scalability of the innovation and the readiness to scale were assessed, classifying the innovations as high, relatively high, high potential and neutral, according to the conditions agreed upon in the groups and the expected impact. Finally, aspects such as adoption status, geographic expansion and potential barriers, such as resistance to change or limited access to training, were reviewed.

Through participatory dynamics, it was identified that these innovations have a high potential to be scaled up, as summarized below.

Stakeholders recognized the importance of creating strategic alliances between the public, private and civil society sectors to foster the mass adoption of these types of innovations. The results of the group discussions highlight the need to strengthen the digital and communication infrastructure, improve the capacities of producers and foster collaboration among sector actors to maximize the impact of innovations.

Visualizing the Future: Strategies for Scalability

As we move towards large-scale implementation of the innovations discussed in the workshops, it is critical to consider both the opportunities and challenges identified. The next step will be to use the knowledge gained to create an action plan that addresses the barriers to scaling up, which include lack of resources, limited infrastructure, and public policies that do not yet favor the adoption of these types of innovations.

One of the key lessons identified in the workshops is that scalability depends not only on the innovations themselves, but also on the environment in which they are implemented. A supportive framework that includes human and financial resources, technical expertise, and inter-institutional collaboration is essential.

Acknowledgments and Next Steps

We thank all participants and facilitators for their valuable contribution to these workshops. A report on the detailed results of the workshop is currently being prepared, which could serve as a guide for key actors in the food sector in Honduras.

About the authors:

Mirian Colindres is a Senior Research Associate for the Food Environment & Consumer Behavior Research Area of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT.

Byron Reyes is a scientist in Foresight and Applied Economics for Impact for the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT.

Federico Ceballos-Sierra is a Postdoctoral Fellow for the Food Environment & Consumer Behavior Research Area of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT.

William Igeler is a Senior Research Associate in the Food Environment and Consumer Behavior unit at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT.

Thai Minh is a Senior Researcher in Innovation Scaling at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI).

Jennifer Wiegel holds a joint position as Sub-Regional Manager Central America and Researcher working on food systems, the food environment, consumer behavior and value chains at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT.