The territory of the Rio Minho European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC Rio Minho) reinforced its role as a platform for European and international cooperation by hosting, from 29 June to 2 July, an international mission that brought together European and Latin American territories to address shared challenges in the agri-food sector.

Co-organised by EGTC Rio Minho, the Community of Practice Agri-Food International Mission took place within the framework of the International Urban and Regional Cooperation (IURC) programme, funded by the European Union, which promotes cooperation between cities and regions across different continents.

The mission brought together institutional, technical, academic and business representatives from Rio Minho, Mendoza, Bozen/South Tyrol, Amazonas, Loreto and Tacna, creating a forum for exchange between European and Latin American territories with diverse realities but common interests in agri-food innovation, competitiveness, sustainability and internationalisation.

Over five days, the programme combined working sessions with technical visits to municipalities on both sides of the River Minho, structured around three thematic pillars: innovation and digital transition in the agri-food sector; marketing, internationalisation and value chains; and territorial development through wine, gastronomy and local products.

The working sessions addressed topics such as knowledge transfer, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, innovation models, the circular economy and multi-level cooperation in responding to the challenges faced by border territories. In Galicia, participants visited the Estación Fitopatolóxica Areeiro in Pontevedra, Bodega Paco & Lola in Meaño, Bodegas Terras Gauda in O Rosal, and the Centro de Interpretación de la Lamprea y el Vino in Arbo. In Portugal, the programme included visits to the Solar do Alvarinho in Melgaço, the Fortress of Valença, and the Monção Habitat Criativo innovation centre.

The diversity of the participating regions—from European cross-border territories to Andean, Amazonian and Alpine regions—was one of the mission’s greatest strengths, providing an opportunity to compare approaches, exchange experiences and identify shared challenges. The mission was also linked to the REDE_GOV_MINHO project, co-funded by the Interreg VI-A Spain–Portugal (POCTEP) Programme, highlighting the importance of cooperation networks and multi-level governance.

The international mission concluded with stronger links between the participating territories and the identification of new opportunities for collaboration in the fields of innovation, sustainability, internationalisation, the promotion of local resources and territorial competitiveness. It also reinforced the position of the Rio Minho cross-border territory as a reference for European and international cooperation, capable of sharing knowledge, building partnerships and contributing to innovative responses to the challenges facing the agri-food sector.