AGP Executive Report

Agricultural Technology: Colombia is seeking Israeli irrigation and water-management expertise for drought-prone La Guajira, with plans to improve farming and livestock production. Biodiversity: Researchers confirmed a new giant water lily species in Guainía, Victoria colombiana; just 30 to 50 wild plants may remain. Climate Watch: Colombia has officially declared El Niño, warning of strong impacts as the Pacific warms. Connectivity: Starlink’s planned Community Wi-Fi passes may launch in Colombia, offering flexible access through local hosts. Digital Rights: Colombia is among the countries considering stronger protections for neural data as the UN warns about technology that can read brain activity.

Biodiversity: Scientists have identified Victoria colombiana, a giant waterlily found in Colombia’s Inírida region after a researcher spotted it in an Instagram photo. Only an estimated 30 to 50 plants remain in the wild. Climate Watch: IDEAM has declared El Niño underway, citing Pacific temperatures 3.49°C above average. The agency warns of lower rainfall, water shortages and wildfire risk, with satellite monitoring part of the response. Connectivity: Starlink is preparing a Community Wi-Fi program for nine markets, including Colombia, where local hosts could sell flexible internet passes. Colombian Innovation: A Colombian designer won a 2026 James Dyson Award for a prosthetic socket, while a 14-year-old inventor developed a device that lets deaf children feel birdsong through vibrations.

Colombian Biodiversity: Scientists formally identified Victoria colombiana, a giant waterlily spotted in an Instagram photo from Guainía. With just 30 to 50 plants believed to remain in the wild, conservationists are racing to protect it. Digital Finance: Colombia’s Bre-B instant-payment system marked its first year, with adoption outpacing Brazil’s Pix, according to an EBANX analysis. Regional fintech growth is also being driven by digital payments and financial inclusion. Homegrown Innovation: A 14-year-old Colombian inventor created a device that lets deaf children feel birdsong through vibrations, while a Colombian designer won a James Dyson Award for a prosthetic socket. Urban Climate: Medellín’s celebrated tree-planting and green-corridor projects have not prevented heat from rising faster, highlighting the challenge of keeping cities cool as temperatures climb.

Climate Research: A new study finds sharply different futures for two tropical fruit bats: the species found in Colombia may retain most suitable habitat through mid-century, while its Amazonian relative could lose up to half, threatening forest regeneration. AI Skills: Shakira’s Pies Descalzos Foundation and partners launched AWS Entrena Latinas, aiming to train one million women in technology and AI by 2028. Disaster Response: AI-assisted satellite maps helped guide relief decisions within an hour of Colombia’s August earthquake, according to Microsoft. Fintech: Colombia’s Bre-B payment system marked its first year, with adoption reportedly outpacing Brazil’s Pix at the same stage. Local Innovation: A Colombian designer won a 2026 James Dyson Award for a prosthetic socket, while a 14-year-old inventor created a device that lets deaf children feel birdsong through vibrations.

AI Skills: Shakira’s Pies Descalzos Foundation is backing AWS Entrena Latinas with Amazon and Laboratoria, expanding women’s access to AI and technology training across Latin America. Climate Science: Colombia’s Ideam says El Niño is likely to persist into early 2027, with a strong chance of very intense conditions this quarter—raising risks to water supplies, crops, energy costs and workers. Aerospace: Brazil’s new Gripen production line could build 15 of the fighter jets ordered by Colombia, extending the countries’ role in advanced aircraft manufacturing. Digital Finance: Colombia’s Bre-B payment system has reached faster adoption than Brazil’s Pix did at the same stage, according to an EBANX analysis. Local Inventions: A 14-year-old Colombian inventor has created a device that lets deaf children experience birdsong through vibrations; a Colombian designer also won a James Dyson Award for a prosthetic socket.

Climate Watch: Colombia’s El Niño is forecast to persist into early 2027, with an 81% chance of very strong conditions this quarter. Lower river and reservoir inflows, heat stress and fires could put pressure on farms, workers and household budgets. Energy Debate: The new government’s backing for fracking revives plans for pilot projects in Puerto Wilches, where residents and environmental groups warn of risks to wetlands and waterways. Assistive Design: Pereira designer Laura Echeverri Giraldo won Colombia’s 2026 James Dyson Award for Encaja, a system that uses smartphone scans and digital fabrication to produce custom prosthetic sockets. Farm Technology: Wingsure has launched an AI-powered coffee-farm intelligence platform, bringing data tools to Colombian growers. Accessible Innovation: A 14-year-old Colombian inventor has created a device that lets deaf children experience birdsong through vibrations. Digital Finance: Colombia’s Bre-B payment system has reached its first anniversary, with adoption reportedly outpacing Brazil’s Pix at the same stage.

Smartphone Hardware in Colombia: Apple’s first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, is set for pre-orders in Colombia on Oct. 16 and sales on Oct. 23, with the 256GB model pegged around 9.7 million COP—about 5.5 months of the minimum wage. Payments & Fintech: Colombia’s instant payment method Bre-B hit 83% adult adoption in its first year, reaching 36 million active users and 8M+ transactions per day, according to EBANX. Security & Drones: A new report says Colombia leads Latin America in explosive drone attacks, with 418 incidents in 2026 (Jan–late Sep), and Cauca accounting for nearly 58% of cases. Climate & Food Risk: El Niño is forecast to become “historic,” with NOAA estimating a 90%+ chance of very strong conditions and major knock-on effects for hunger and supply chains. Health Tech & Biotech Adjacent: Knight Therapeutics launched TAVALISSE (fostamatinib) in Brazil for chronic immune thrombocytopenia, with prior regulatory progress across Latin America including Colombia. Space/Science Infrastructure (Regional): A Sustainable Pacific pilot is using underwater hydrophones in Panama’s Pearl Islands to study how ship noise affects humpback whale song recording. Disaster Response: UNESCO approved US$60,000 to help recover Colombian cultural heritage damaged by the Aug. 10 earthquake.

Consumer Tech in Colombia: Apple’s first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, is set for pre-orders in Colombia starting Oct. 16, with sales beginning Oct. 23; the 256GB model is reported around 9.7 million COP, about 5.5 months of Colombia’s 2026 minimum wage. Digital Payments: Colombia’s instant payment method Bre-B hit 83% adult penetration in its first year (vs. 65% for Brazil’s Pix), reaching 36 million active users and 8M+ transactions per day, according to EBANX analysis. Security & Drones: A new international report says Colombia leads Latin America in explosive-drone attacks, with 418 incidents recorded in 2026 so far—up 125% from all of 2025—concentrated heavily in Cauca. Health & Biotech/Med Tech: Knight Therapeutics launched TAVALISSE® (fostamatinib) in Brazil for chronic immune thrombocytopenia, extending its Latin America rollout that already includes Colombia approval in Sept. 2026. Robotics Education: The UN Verification Mission recognized Bogotá robotics teacher Tatiana Munoz, who runs Science Bot in Guaviare and has trained 6,000+ children with 3D printers and offline-capable learning.

Carbon Markets Policy: Colombia’s main Article 6 technical partner (GGGI) urges the incoming administration to publish an emissions-reduction legal framework, set a $20/t minimum price for ITMOs, define the national authority, and publish an eligible-sectors list—aimed at making Paris carbon trading rules work in practice. Energy & Industry Oversight: Ecopetrol asked Colombia’s Fiscalía to investigate how it awarded the Pacific LNG regasification contract, citing potential irregularities around influence, conflicts of interest, contract changes, and delay penalties. AI Governance: A new piece argues that after UNESCO’s global AI ethics principles, the real challenge is building long-lasting institutions for sustainable AI governance. Coffee Tech for Farmers: SRI spinout Wingsure launched Wingsure COFFEA, a phone-based farm record system meant to let buyers, insurers, and lenders reuse verified data across programs. B2B AI Sales Tools: CoBALT’s REALIZER signed an MOU with IBEForuM to help companies turn event meetings into structured sales follow-ups using AI. Aerospace Industrialization: Embraer and Mahindra are planning India’s C-390 industrial ecosystem, with Nagpur flagged as a potential final assembly site if the Indian Air Force program moves forward.

AI for Industry: Geocarbonite says its IntelliPro AI helps maintenance technicians diagnose equipment faster and retain know-how as experienced staff retire. Personal Data AI: EQUS launched EQUS X, a personal AI that reads only user-approved files via private storage, with access revocable anytime. Crypto Intelligence: Binance unveiled Binance Intelligence, an AI product stack aimed at helping everyday users understand markets and building finance-focused strategies. Coffee Traceability Tech: Wingsure COFFEA lets coffee growers document farm activity from phones so buyers, insurers, and lenders can reuse verified records across programs. Archaeology Lab in Colombia: UNAL opened an Amazonia Archaeology Laboratory in Leticia to study human presence in the Colombia-Peru-Brazil border region dating back 13,000 years. Carbon Credits Policy: Colombia’s new government plans to lift a 50% cap on carbon credit retirements against CO2 tax liabilities, boosting the voluntary carbon market. Cybersecurity: Group-IB detailed its role in Operation KillSwitch, disrupting the KillSec ransomware-as-a-service operation.

AI for Inclusion in Colombia: A 14-year-old inventor in Colombia built a wearable vibrotactile device that turns birdsong into arm vibrations, helping deaf children identify species and join conservation activities. Energy Tech Expansion: UAE firm AIQ says it will roll its AI/ML tech into India’s oil and gas sector, deploying across refineries, gas stations, and digital stores as it expands beyond ADnoc. Connectivity Deal Watch: MTN cleared major regulatory hurdles to acquire IHS, with competition approvals in South Africa and conditional go-aheads in Nigeria. Wildlife Trade Risk: More Amazonian species are showing up in Southeast Asia’s pet markets, with trafficking routes often laundering wild-caught animals via Peru hubs. Climate Pressure on LatAm: A University of Chicago-linked projection warns Super El Niño could add thousands of heat deaths across Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela, with housing and cooling access shaping risk. Policy & Rights Debate: Across parts of Latin America, lawmakers are proposing tougher rules targeting alleged false reports in domestic/sexual violence cases, sparking renewed controversy over women’s protections. Colombia Angle: EU asylum rules list Colombia as a “safe country of origin,” affecting how claims may be processed across member states.

Climate & Health: A University of Chicago-backed analysis warns “Super El Niño” could add about 451,000 heat deaths worldwide in 2026–27, with projected increases for Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela—highlighting that survival depends on housing, work conditions, and cooling costs. Migration Policy: The EU added seven “safe countries of origin” for 2026, including Colombia, which can trigger faster asylum processing across member states. Public Health & Tech: A 14-year-old Colombian inventor built a wearable vibrotactile device that turns birdsong into vibrations so deaf children can “hear” and identify species—an accessibility win for conservation tech. Environment & Science: Wake Forest and CINCIA researchers briefed Pope Leo XIV on Amazon mercury pollution tied to gold mining, stressing how contamination moves through ecosystems to reach Indigenous communities. Food & Nutrition Policy: California signed a bill creating a voluntary label for foods marked “not ultra-processed,” aiming to help shoppers—especially families facing higher health risks—understand what they eat.

Narco Tech Threat: A Colombian Navy report warns cartels are accelerating autonomous underwater “narco subs” that could reach European waters within a couple of years, using commercially available autopilots and satellite links. Climate Policy Push: Germany commits to phasing out fossil fuels by 2045, while California highlights its clean-electricity progress during Climate Week NYC. Colombia Innovation for Inclusion: A 14-year-old Colombian inventor built a wearable vibrotactile device that translates birdsong into vibrations so deaf children can “feel” and identify bird calls. Higher Ed Spotlight: Four Colombian universities place in QS Latin America’s top 20, led by Universidad de los Andes (8th). Health & Environment: Wake Forest and CINCIA researchers brief Pope Leo XIV on Amazon mercury pollution tied to gold mining. Regional Tech-Policy: Trinidad and Tobago joins PAHO’s executive committee, adding Caribbean representation to regional health priorities.

MacArthur “Genius Grant” in Colombia ties to memory science: Duke philosopher Felipe De Brigard (from Bogotá) received an $800,000 fellowship after a surprise call, using cognitive science to study how human memory fills in gaps. Amazon mercury pollution gets Vatican spotlight: Wake Forest and CINCIA researchers briefed Pope Leo XIV with findings that gold-mining mercury spreads through ecosystems and reaches vulnerable Indigenous communities. Colombia’s higher-ed momentum: QS ranks four Colombian universities in the Latin America & Caribbean top 20, led by Universidad de los Andes (8th). Energy-tech push: GeoPark says it’s ready to join Colombia’s race toward the country’s first fracking well, alongside Ecopetrol and Drummond. Rare-earths exploration update: Jaguar Uranium reports magnet rare earth elements in resampled drill core at its Berlin project in Caldas. Agro/industry investment: EU-backed financing supports Alimentos Secos’ Milsec whey-processing expansion, aiming at food and pharmaceutical ingredients. Economy targets: Colombia’s 2026–2030 plan draft sets a 6% growth goal to reach the world’s top 25 economies. Infrastructure finance: A $1.2T COP loan clears the way for Bogotá’s Accesos Norte Fase II road works.

Colombia Tech & Science: Colombia’s August earthquake could keep triggering aftershocks for years, with scientists warning families to plan for uncertainty rather than assuming shaking will steadily shrink. Public Health & Research: Wake Forest and CINCIA researchers briefed Pope Leo XIV on Amazon mercury pollution tied to gold mining, highlighting impacts on wildlife and Indigenous communities. Agriculture & Food Security: CIMMYT and partners trained 22 specialists from 11 countries on surveillance and management of maize and wheat diseases, aiming to stop evolving pathogens from spreading. Higher Education: Four Colombian universities placed in QS’s Latin America & Caribbean top 20, led by Universidad de los Andes (8th). Energy & Industry: GeoPark says it’s ready to join Colombia’s push toward fracking, alongside Ecopetrol and Drummond, as unconventional drilling plans move forward. Infrastructure: A $1.2T COP loan was closed to widen Bogotá’s Autopista Norte and Carrera Séptima under the Accesos Norte Fase II project. Tech & Innovation: Jaguar Uranium reported rare-earth results from resampled drill core at its Berlin project in Caldas, signaling potential magnet-material prospects.

University Rankings: Four Colombian universities placed in the QS Latin America & Caribbean 2026 top 20—Universidad de los Andes (8th), National University (12th), Javeriana (18th) and Antioquia (20th). Infrastructure Finance: A $1.2T COP loan has been closed to fund Bogotá’s Accesos Norte Fase II works, including the Autopista Norte and Carrera Séptima corridors. Energy & Industry Tech: GeoPark says it’s ready to join fracking efforts in Colombia, alongside Ecopetrol and Drummond, as the country reopens the door to unconventional drilling. Rare Earths: Jaguar Uranium reports rare earths (including magnet metals like neodymium and dysprosium) in resampled drill core from its Berlin project in Caldas. Agri-Food Innovation: European-backed financing supports a whey-processing expansion in Colombia to produce food and pharmaceutical ingredients. AI & Sovereignty: A new analysis explores how AI systems can collide with state sovereignty obligations. Disaster Risk: Colombia’s August earthquake aftershocks could continue for years, with scientists warning that “uncertainty” is part of recovery planning. Cybersecurity: Europol-led Operation KillSwitch dismantled ransomware group KillSec, seizing infrastructure and data.