Ecuadorian Innovator Named Top Agri-food Pioneer

Josselyn Verónica Vega Rojas, a 29-year-old Ecuadorian, has been named among the 40 Top Agri-food Pioneers for 2026 by the World Food Prize Foundation.

This recognition coincides with the World Food Prize's 40th anniversary and highlights innovators from 30 countries. Vega Rojas serves as a coordinator for the Association of Agroecological Producers of Cotopaxi, representing Ecuador in a global network focused on transforming food systems. Her work aims to prepare agriculture for the future in the Andean highlands of Cotopaxi, blending indigenous knowledge with agroecology and community leadership.

Vega Rojas, who belongs to the Kichwa Panzaleo people, began community work at age 14, motivated by firsthand experiences with social inequality. She currently manages the Kay Pacha Agroecological Farm in the San Isidro de Pujilí community. The farm cultivates diverse crops, produces honey, and raises small animals, operating as a sustainable agroecological system designed to protect biodiversity and support rural livelihoods.

The World Food Prize website describes Vega Rojas as an emerging leader dedicated to strengthening local food systems and creating opportunities for young people and underserved communities. She also plays a key leadership role in the Association of Agroecological Producers of Cotopaxi.