June 5 events spotlight cross-continental collaboration and innovation in food and agriculture
ST. LOUIS, MO (June 4, 2025) — St. Louis will welcome a 32-person delegation from Córdoba, Argentina on Thursday, June 5, for a full day of programming that celebrates the growing ties between the Midwestern U.S. and South America in agricultural innovation and entrepreneurship.
This high-level convening, part of Misión Agtech: Connecting the Innovation Ecosystems of Río Cuarto & St. Louis, is powered by Cultivar, a bi-regional initiative co-led by The Yield Lab Institute and BioSTL to foster collaboration between emerging and established agtech hubs across the Americas.
The day’s programming will take place across St. Louis’ innovation corridor, from the Downtown North Insights District to the 39 North AgTech Innovation District.
“This visit from the Córdoba delegation represents the next chapter in a relationship that has been years in the making,” said Stephanie Regagnon, Interim Executive Director of The Yield Lab Institute. “The trust we’ve collectively built and the shared vision we’ve created are bearing fruit in ways that will benefit both of our regions. Through the Cultivar initiative, we’re not just building bridges across the Americas—we’re building a platform for mutual growth, impactful innovation, and lasting collaboration.”
Programming highlights include:
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Gilberto Pinela, Director of the Office of New Americans, will deliver a welcome on behalf of the Mayor of the City of St. Louis during morning remarks and a Cultivar overview at The Post Building in Downtown North.
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A Freight Week riverboat tour of the Mississippi River
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A networking lunch and startup showcase at the 39 North AgTech Innovation District featuring Córdoba delegates and St. Louis-based companies such as Pivot Bio, Agragene, and Aferna Bio.
The visiting delegation includes public officials, academic leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors from Córdoba Province, including Martín Llaryora, Governor of Córdoba; Guillermo Acosta, Head of Economic Development in Córdoba; Dr. Sergio Busso, Minister of Bioagroindustry; and Manuel Ron, Co-founder of Bio4 and President of Agencia Córdoba Innovar y Emprender. Their time in St. Louis will also include connections with regional stakeholders from St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, Greater St. Louis Inc., Danforth Plant Science Center, Arch Grants, and more.
“Successful international partnerships require time and in-person relationship development,” said Tim Nowak, Executive Director of World Trade Center St. Louis. “This is exactly why we led an ag-tech focused trade mission to Argentina in 2017 and are thrilled to now host our friends from Córdoba, Argentina. These exchanges, and the resulting MOU, advance even more collaboration around St. Louis’ strengths in ag-technology and plant sciences.”
While the spotlight is on Thursday’s dynamic agenda, the visit will conclude with the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Friday, June 6 at the World Trade Center St. Louis. The agreement outlines a two-year framework for agtech programming, talent exchange, and joint events between St. Louis and Río Cuarto, and is endorsed by institutions such as 39 North, the National Agricultural Technology Institute of Argentina (INTA in Spanish), the Cordoba Government, and the Ministry of Agriculture of Córdoba.
“Connecting St. Louis’ vibrant agtech ecosystem with partners in Argentina is one more vehicle for elevating St. Louis’ leadership in solving the pressing challenges in global agriculture,” said Donn Rubin, Founding President & CEO of BioSTL.
With rising interest in food system resilience, conservation, and bi-national innovation, Cultivar and its partners are shaping the future of agriculture through long-term, high-impact collaboration.