Diego Pérez

A Colombian social entrepreneur who revolutionized smallholder farming through digital platforms, empowering rural communities in Latin America.

Diego Pérez, a visionary from Medellín, Colombia, launched AgroConnect in 2014, a digital marketplace connecting small-scale farmers to urban consumers. His platform eliminated intermediaries, enabling farmers to sell produce directly and earn up to 40% more income. By 2019, AgroConnect had expanded to 12 countries in Latin America, serving over 50,000 farmers and reducing food waste by optimizing supply chains. Pérez also pioneered agro-education programs, providing free training in sustainable farming and tech literacy. His efforts were pivotal during the 2016–2018 agricultural crises in Venezuela, where AgroConnect ensured food distribution despite political instability. Recognized as a Forbes Under 30 Social Entrepreneur in 2017, Pérez emphasized ethical tech development, ensuring rural communities retained ownership of their data. His memoir, 《AgroTech: Bridging Rural and Digital Worlds》, details his philosophy of inclusive innovation. Diego’s work is chronicled in the documentary 《Seeds of Change: Diego Pérez’s AgroRevolution》 (2019), highlighting his impact on global food security.