AGP Executive Report

Digital Payments: Paraguay is testing Peanut, a wallet that lets users hold digital dollars and pay by card without a Paraguayan bank account. AI in Jamaica: Businesses are moving beyond chatbots to AI tools that automate work, even as the government’s national AI policy remains in development; one local firm has built an AI platform for medical practices. Caribbean Commerce: Powertranz and Mastercard are rolling out pay-at-the-table contactless payments for restaurants in Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados. Data Infrastructure: Uruguay’s government has partnered with Solaria to develop up to 500 megawatts of data-center capacity. Seismic Research: Chile’s new GeoSismos platform brings together more than a decade of seismic data to support earthquake research. Venezuelan Fossils: Vertebrae from Venezuela suggest anacondas reached about 5.2 metres roughly 12.4 million years ago, though researchers still cannot explain why the snakes remained giants.

Wildlife Research: A camera trap recorded a male jaguar in the Guatemala–Honduras Bi-National Corridor, a rare sighting that confirms the forest link is still usable by the elusive cats. Agricultural Innovation: A new US-backed coffee and cacao research lab, led by the University of Hawaiʻi with Clemson, will work with small farmers across Latin America and other regions on disease-resistant crops and better farming methods. Sports Technology: Uruguay is testing virtual cards in football refereeing as part of a push to modernize the game. Cybersecurity: Latin America recorded the highest regional cyberattack rate in September, averaging 3,813 attacks per organization each week; worldwide attacks were up 48% year over year. Amazon Conservation: Brazil’s Amazon deforestation fell 42%, reaching its lowest level in nearly four decades.

Sports Technology: Uruguay trialed electronic yellow and red cards in a competitive football match, digitally recording disciplinary decisions; glare made the screen hard to see, so developers are considering brighter displays. Data Infrastructure: Uruguay has partnered with Solaria on plans for up to 500 megawatts of data-center capacity, underscoring growing demand for power-intensive computing. Digital Finance: Circle says it aims to enter about 40 developing markets, including in Latin America, as demand for stablecoins grows. AI Startups: Dapta raised $6 million to expand AI sales agents for small businesses across the U.S. and Latin America. Caribbean Connectivity: A proposal for a direct Europe–Caribbean data cable aims to reduce the region’s reliance on Miami for international links.

Amazon Protection: Brazil’s INPE says Amazon deforestation fell 42% in the year to July, to 3,335 square kilometers—the lowest since records began in 1988. Coastal Climate Risks: Erosion, flooding and beach loss are damaging homes, infrastructure and livelihoods in communities on Colombia’s Pacific and Caribbean coasts. Agricultural Research: A new coffee and cacao innovation lab led by the University of Hawaiʻi, with an initial $8 million award, will work with farmers in Latin America and other regions on crop resilience and production. Digital Tools: Uruguay trialed electronic cards to log referees’ cautions and speed up match reporting. Biotech Investment: Argentina’s Giraffe Bio raised $6.4 million to develop biotechnology and AI for copper extraction. Fintech Growth: Uruguay’s Scanntech secured $180 million to support its international expansion.

Digital Security: A Mastercard study says fraud and cybersecurity fears are slowing digital growth among Latin American and Caribbean small businesses. AI & Mining: Argentina’s Giraffe Bio raised $6.4 million to use biotechnology and AI to improve copper extraction; meanwhile, more Latin American engineers are earning Claude certifications as demand for AI deployment skills grows. Disaster Science: Chile has launched GeoSismos, a platform bringing together more than a decade of seismic data to study earthquake activity. Clean Energy: El Salvador announced plans for 400 megawatts of solar power and 1 gigawatt-hour of battery storage. Biodiversity Finance: A new GEF- and IDB-backed initiative aims to use blended finance to attract private investment for conservation and restoration projects across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Retail Data: Uruguay’s Scanntech raised US$180 million to accelerate the expansion of its platform, which turns real-time supermarket sales into commercial data. Biotech and Mining: Argentina’s Giraffe Bio secured US$6.4 million to use biotechnology and AI to extract more copper. Disaster Tech: Chile’s GeoSismos platform brings together more than a decade of seismic data to study earthquake activity. Clean Energy: El Salvador announced a 400-megawatt solar and 1-gigawatt-hour battery-storage push. Connectivity: Starlink has begun internet service in Curaçao, while Brazil’s data-center growth is spreading beyond São Paulo. AI Skills: More Latin American engineers are earning Claude certifications as US demand for AI deployment talent grows.

Clean Energy: El Salvador announced a 400-megawatt solar expansion alongside a 1-gigawatt-hour battery push, as Cox also plans 1 GWh of storage in the country. Digital Infrastructure: Brazil’s data-center growth is spreading beyond São Paulo, while Starlink has begun service in Curaçao. Online Safety: Mexico’s government is ordering tech platforms to protect children and teens from harmful content. Mobility: Guyana’s new GAC dealership brings AION electric vehicles to the market, extending the brand’s Caribbean rollout. Science & Agriculture: Researchers say wild cotton on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula could help improve crops; a South American study offers a simple way to assess small mammals’ climate vulnerability. Biodiversity: Scientists found 57 new species in an Argentine deep-sea canyon, underscoring how much life remains undocumented.

Digital Access: Starlink has begun service in Curaçao, while a reported 10 million Colombian homes lack a computer and Brazil’s data-center growth is spreading beyond São Paulo. AI and Indigenous Languages: An Arizona State University team is developing tools based on real Spanish-Quechua conversations in Ecuador and Peru, aiming to prevent AI from misreading bilingual speech as flawed language. Online Safety: Mexico’s president has ordered digital platforms to protect children and teens from harmful content. Regional AI: Caribbean voices are seeking greater influence in global AI debates.

Climate Watch: A super El Niño is taking shape: sea temperatures off Peru reached 4°C above normal in September, the highest in records dating to 1949, raising concern about extreme weather. Digital Payments: Fintech firm Owlting’s infrastructure is enabling Decaf to offer eligible companies outside the U.S. dollar accounts without requiring a U.S. entity; the platform reports $48 million in monthly payment volume. LATAM Tech Talent: A staffing firm’s review found 51% of engineering job descriptions from U.S. companies hiring in Latin America seek candidates who can own work end to end, compared with 32% in other departments. Brazil’s Streaming Boom: CazéTV will carry all 64 matches of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup live on YouTube, after eight major brands renewed sponsorships following record audiences for the 2026 tournament. Marine Discovery: Researchers exploring an Argentine deep-sea canyon identified 57 species new to science, highlighting the region’s largely unexplored marine biodiversity.

Forest Watch: Global deforestation fell 15% in 2025, but researchers warn the slowdown may not last as El Niño intensifies. Latin America saw a 33% decline, with Brazil’s enforcement efforts credited for progress; agriculture and mining remain major drivers. Deep-Sea Discoveries: Scientists identified 57 new species and five new genera in Argentina’s Mar del Plata Canyon in just two weeks. Plastic and fishing debris were also found in the remote habitat. Volcano Monitoring: Satellite radar tracked opposing ground movements beneath Nicaragua’s Masaya volcano, hinting that separate magma reservoirs are changing independently. The findings could help improve hazard monitoring for nearby communities. Clean Energy: The Dominican Republic and IRENA launched a regional alliance to accelerate renewable energy, with a focus on investment, stronger grids, storage and new technologies.

Brazil Connectivity: floLIVE and Skylo are partnering to bring cellular and satellite IoT connectivity to Brazil, linking two network types for connected devices. AI and Security: An analysis warns that China’s expanding AI presence in Latin America raises security risks, putting regional oversight in focus. Disaster Alerts: Mexico is putting disaster warnings on mobile phones at no cost, using technology to make emergency information more accessible. Banking Cybersecurity: The Casbaneiro trojan activates when victims visit targeted bank websites, underscoring the need for vigilance against attacks on Latin American financial users. AI Skills: Shakira’s foundation has launched an initiative to help women across Latin America learn about AI.

Climate Science: A new study finds extreme rainfall can damage cocoa flowers, disrupt pollination and fuel disease, threatening yields and farmers’ incomes in Ecuador and other major growing regions. Earth Observation: Europe’s Sentinel-3C satellite has sent back its first images, including the Caribbean, and begun measuring ocean height to help track environmental change. Mobility: Guyana has added BYD’s Atto 8 and M9 plug-in hybrids to its market, expanding local options for electric driving. Digital Infrastructure: A proposal for a direct Europe–Caribbean data cable aims to reduce the region’s reliance on Miami for connectivity. Space Connectivity: Venezuela has authorized Starlink to operate nationwide, opening a new satellite internet option.

Electric Mobility: Brazilian startup Vammo has passed 10 million battery swaps, reached profitability and grown to 10,000-plus riders. It plans to expand from São Paulo to Campinas, with other Latin American markets in its sights. Digital Commerce: Meituan’s Keeta has tripled its coverage in Brazil, extending the Chinese delivery platform’s push into the region. Regional Connectivity: Guyana’s president is urging Caribbean governments to use digital tools to speed visa processing and ease travel for residents and businesses. Cybersecurity: The Casbaneiro banking trojan reportedly activates when victims visit targeted bank websites, highlighting a persistent threat to online banking in Brazil. Space Connectivity: Venezuela has authorized Starlink to operate nationwide, potentially widening access to satellite internet. AI Skills: Shakira’s foundation has launched an AI training initiative for women across Latin America.

Mobility: Nissan will launch its China-developed Frontier Pro pickup in Mexico, the first Nissan model designed and built in China for export; the company plans to expand sales across Latin America. Energy Systems: Regional ministers called for long-term grid planning as digitalization drives electricity demand. OLADE also tasked its secretariat with assessing how AI could improve grid management and efficiency, with cybersecurity safeguards; IRENA launched a renewables partnership for Latin America and the Caribbean. Disaster Alerts: Mexico is introducing free cellphone disaster warnings. Panama’s magnitude-7.7 earthquake triggered tsunami alerts. Connectivity: Venezuela authorized Starlink to operate nationwide, potentially expanding satellite internet access. Climate and Resources: Wildfires in Brazil’s Amazonas state are worsening air quality in Manaus, while reporting on Chile’s salt flats highlights tensions between lithium extraction and the green-energy transition. Medical Research: Yucatán is advancing precision oncology with southeastern Mexico’s first cyclotron.

Renewable Energy: IRENA launched a regional partnership to turn Latin America and the Caribbean’s clean-energy ambitions into projects and investment; renewables already generate about two-thirds of the region’s electricity. Lithium’s Costs: Chile’s Atacama salt flat holds a major share of global lithium reserves, but extraction puts fragile ecosystems and Indigenous communities at risk, exposing tensions in the green-tech supply chain. Connectivity and Safety: Venezuela has authorized Starlink to operate nationwide, while Mexico is putting disaster alerts on mobile phones at no charge. Medical Science: Southeastern Mexico’s first cyclotron is advancing precision oncology in Yucatán. Ocean Research: Latin American and European scientists identified 57 new species and five new genera from deep-sea samples collected off Argentina.

Satellite Connectivity: Venezuela has authorized Starlink to operate nationwide, following emergency trials that helped restore communications after earthquakes damaged infrastructure. AI and Disinformation: OpenAI says a Russian influence operation used AI-generated material and unwitting participants in Latin America to promote a fake think tank, underscoring how generative tools can amplify covert campaigns. Regional Digital Links: Five Eastern Caribbean islands are now connected through a regional internet exchange, strengthening local connectivity. Disaster Technology: Mexico is putting disaster warnings on mobile phones without charge, while the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology is expanding its use of satellite data to monitor regional risks. AI Skills: Shakira’s foundation has launched AI training for Latin American women, aiming to widen access to emerging technology careers.