Agrojoven brings hundreds of young entrepreneurs together to open new markets

Chocolate bars, honey, specialty coffee, peppers, seasonings and liqueurs filled small stands at Quito's Metropolitan Convention Center as 300 young rural entrepreneurs sought buyers for their products.

The participants came from all 24 provinces of Ecuador and gathered on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, for the first major business forum organized through the Agrojoven program. The event brought them together with Ecuadorian companies ranging from small businesses to large firms.

Gherda Barreto, the FAO representative in Ecuador, said 70 of the entrepreneurs were expected to do business with 26 interested companies. She said the organizers aimed to secure a preliminary purchase agreement worth $100,000. Carlos Tapia of the FAO said they projected 152 commercial connections.

The government created Agrojoven in 2024 to improve job quality for young people in the agri-food sector and create more work and better living conditions for their rural families. The program began under the former Agriculture Ministry and receives support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and international cooperation.

Agrojoven accepts participants aged 18 to 29. Some are university students or graduates with master's degrees, and many run bio-businesses with their families or communities. Their products already reach local markets as well as Quito, Guayaquil, Tungurahua and Azuay. Some participants also hope to export.