RGA Agro-productive programme to stimulate local production – Río Grande, Argentina

• From import to local production
• Providing technical and financial assistance to small fruit and vegetable producers

Located on the island of Tierra del Fuego, Río Grande faces unique geographical circumstances, which result in the importation of over 12,000 tons of fruits and vegetables annually. These imports travel across four borders in refrigerated trucks, often comprising low quality or discarded products with untraceable origins. Consequently, only 3% of the city’s fresh food is locally grown.

The municipality has taken proactive measures in response to these challenges by introducing an Urban Food Strategy. This strategy fosters a more sustainable, diversified, and inclusive food production and consumption system. One of the key initiatives to achieve this goal is establishing the RGA Agro-productive programme in 2021. The primary objective of this Programme is to empower small fruit and vegetable producers by providing support throughout the entire production process. This support entails technical, economic, and financial assistance, from the initial planting phase to the development of effective marketing strategies. Through these efforts, the city aims to strengthen local producers, promote high-quality produce, and reduce its reliance on external imports. The RGA Agro-productive Programme extends its support to over 185 small fruit and vegetable producers in Río Grande.