Tec Qro fosters innovation links between agriculture in Mexico and UK

The Institute of Entrepreneurship (IEEGL) at Tec de Monterrey’s Querétaro campus has completed its participation in the ARISE program (Agri-Tech for Resilience, Innovation & Sustainable Ecosystems).

This program included knowledge-sharing stays at key centers such as São Paulo, St. Louis, and Cambridge.

The goal was to promote innovation in agronomy, artificial intelligence, and biology to create more resilient and sustainable agri-food systems.

“These partnerships contribute to the transfer and adaptation of technology developed in the United Kingdom to Latin America, driving local innovation to strengthen the regional ecosystem,” said Jesús de la Vega.

Leadership and institutional representation

The ARISE program is a six-month strategic outreach program designed to connect agricultural technology innovation ecosystems in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Latin America.

Tec de Monterrey’s participation was led by IEEGL Querétaro campus Director Moisés Carbajal and Jesús de la Vega, who oversees entrepreneurship initiatives in Querétaro.

Other staff who contributed to the project included Marco A. Mata-Gómez, Juan Valiente, and Paula Bárcena, who brought expertise in fields such as bioengineering, agronomy, and social urban planning at distritoQRO.

One of the things that sets the Tec apart in this type of initiative is its focus on entrepreneurship: “We’ve got the skills needed to launch startups, research-based companies, and funding programs—something not all universities have,” de la Vega said.

One of the key lessons learned was the need to move beyond isolated projects, as teams worked to design financial, legal, and institutional frameworks to enable innovation to be scaled up.

“Without a foundation of financial and legal security, it is difficult for these projects to grow sustainably,” he said.

This approach aims to help initiatives evolve from academic collaborations into viable and scalable solutions.

Latin America stands out for its agricultural production capacity, while the United Kingdom excels in technological advancement, albeit with lower production volumes.

“Thanks to this partnership, we can facilitate the implementation of technologies developed in other countries, adapt them to the Mexican context, and subsequently scale them up.”

A network of strategic partnerships

The ARISE program is funded by the UK government and managed by Agri-TechE. The collaboration brought together international organizations such as:

• AgriTIERRA and Earthbase
• The Yield Lab Institute
• Embrapa

These partnerships position Querétaro as a hub for the adaptation, development, and expansion of agri-food technologies, while reinforcing one of distritoQRO’s core pillars: sustainability.

distritoQRO: Impact on the regional ecosystem

A key element was the development of strategic connections for distritoQRO.

The Tec’s participation enables Querétaro to leverage the United Kingdom’s research capabilities in fields such as predictive agronomy, biosensors, and alternatives to agrochemicals.

These partnerships aim to create a platform that promotes sustainable growth and investment in cutting-edge technologies for the Mexican agricultural sector.

Students will have access to opportunities for international collaboration, research placements, and specialized technologies.

Startups are provided with easier access to global networks, technology transfer, and international financing.

The impact can also be felt directly in rural areas of Mexico. “This could lead to more technologically advanced producers, improved processes, and lower costs for crops that are vital to the country,” pointed out the director of the Institute of Entrepreneurship.

During this process, distritoQRO will serve as a liaison between the investment sector, regulatory bodies, infrastructure providers, and the community.

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