A consultant will be hired to prepare and monitor a virtual survey directed to all APEC economies, with a focus on those that have expressed interest in actively participating in the project: Canada; Chile; People's Republic of China; Indonesia; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Papua New Guinea; the Philippines; the Russian Federation; Chinese Taipei; Thailand; and Viet Nam, which represent diverse experiences in digital transformation and technology adoption among APEC economies. The survey will identify and collect information on innovative digital platforms and applications, including AI-driven solutions and ICT tools, implemented by APEC economies to support the transition of smallholder farmers to the formal economy. The target audience will include authorities, officials, decision makers, researchers, experts, and private sector stakeholders closely related to the topic.

Simultaneously, the consultant will conduct a brief review of the literature about the current challenges and opportunities faced by smallholder farmers in APEC economies to transition to the formal economy and the role of digital solutions in supporting this process. Subsequently, the consultant will prepare an initial report of a minimum of 14 pages excluding annexes, which will serve as the basis for the final report and will provide an analysis of the identified digital solutions and their potential contribution to this process, incorporating the findings from the distributed survey. This information will be presented during the workshop.

The two-day workshop scheduled for September 2027 aims to share experiences on innovative digital platforms and applications, including AI-driven solutions, and discuss their potential role in supporting the transition of smallholder farmers to the formal economy and promoting rural development in APEC economies. The event will include the presentation of survey findings on digital platforms and applications identified in APEC economies, expert presentations on digital transformation and technology adoption in agriculture, discussions on experiences and approaches from participating economies, and interactive group sessions. Participants will include authorities, officials, decision makers, researchers, experts, and private sector stakeholders closely related to the topic.

Day 1
Session 1: Workshop Introduction and Context on Smallholder Farmers’ Transition to the Formal Economy
Session 2: Digital Transformation Opportunities and Challenges for Smallholder Farmers in APEC Economies
Session 3: Presentation of Survey Findings on Innovative Digital Platforms, Applications, and AI-driven Solutions Supporting Smallholder Farmers’ Transition to the Formal Economy
Session 4: Benefits and Opportunities of Digital Solutions for Smallholder Farmers’ Inclusion in Formal Economy Systems
Session 5: Sharing Experiences and Approaches from APEC Economies on Digital Platforms and Applications
Session 6: Panel Discussion on Future Collaboration Opportunities among APEC Economies

Day 2
Field Visit

The field trip will include a visit to Peru’s Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (MIDAGRI), focusing on the National Agrarian Producers Registry (PPA) and its digital platforms for the identification and registration of smallholder farmers. The visit will highlight how digital information and producer identification can facilitate access to public services, financial services, productive support, and formal markets.

The visit will then continue at the Development Finance Corporation of Peru (COFIDE), focusing on financial inclusion initiatives for smallholder farmers, including Savings and Credit Unions (UNICA). Delegates will learn how these mechanisms enable rural producers to build savings, access formal credit, and strengthen their productive activities, as well as how digital technologies and data can help reduce barriers to financial inclusion.

Together, the visits will provide a practical perspective on how digital identification and registration can facilitate smallholder farmers’ access to formal economic opportunities. By connecting reliable producer information with access to financial services, formal credit, productive investment, and markets, the field trip will illustrate how digital innovation and AI can help overcome barriers to formalization, strengthen smallholder farmers’ economic participation, and contribute to inclusive and sustainable rural prosperity across the APEC region.

Session 7: Workshop Summary, Key Takeaways, and Closing Remarks.

The post-workshop survey will be conducted during this session.

After the workshop, the consultant will prepare a final report providing a detailed analysis of the survey results and will be enriched by the discussions, comments, and feedback generated during the workshop. This final report is expected to be an APEC publication with a minimum of 30 pages excluding annexes, containing an executive summary, analysis of the literature review findings, survey results, presentation of innovative digital platforms and applications, including AI-driven solutions, as strategic tools to accelerate the transition of smallholder farmers to the formal economy, the summary of the workshop conclusions, and recommendations for future initiatives related to this topic.

1) Increased awareness and knowledge: Workshop participants and relevant stakeholders are expected to increase their knowledge and awareness of innovative digital platforms and applications, including AI-driven solutions, as tools to support the transition of smallholder farmers to the formal economy. This impact can be measured through surveys or interviews to assess understanding and knowledge before and after the workshop.

2) More resources available: Provide guidance to APEC economies on innovative digital platforms and applications, including AI-driven solutions, to support the transition of smallholder farmers to the formal economy. This impact can be measured through the delivery of written project outputs, such as the survey results and the final report.

3) Increased opportunities for collaboration between APEC economies: The project will promote interaction among participants and identify potential areas for future cooperation related to digital transformation in agriculture. This impact can be measured through the post-workshop survey of participants by assessing whether the project stimulated ideas for collaboration and future initiatives among APEC economies.

The primary beneficiaries of the project will be authorities, researchers/experts, and private sector stakeholders involved in the design, development, and implementation of innovative digital platforms and applications, including AI-driven solutions, to accelerate the transition of smallholder farmers to formal economy systems and contribute to rural development and prosperity, who will use the product that provides specific recommendations on tools and platforms derived from the workshop discussions. It will serve as an informative tool to assist decision-making for future initiatives that strengthen agricultural formalization and technology adoption throughout the region.

Smallholder farmers, including women and youth engaged in small-scale agriculture, alongside international organizations, will benefit as secondary beneficiaries from the implementation of integrated formalization strategies and enhanced technological capabilities. These initiatives will facilitate their digital inclusion, financial literacy, and access to formal markets and technological resources, ultimately improving their livelihoods, economic resilience, and food security across the APEC region.