Fundación PROINPA

What Fundación PROINPA does

Fundación PROINPA is a Bolivian nonprofit science and technology foundation founded in 1991 and headquartered in Quillacollo, Cochabamba, with regional offices in La Paz, Santa Cruz, and Sucre. The organization operates 119 employees and a research center at Kiphakiphani, delivering agricultural innovation across three strategic lines: agroecological intensification, regenerative agriculture, and agrobiodiversity conservation in the context of climate change. It serves smallholder farmers, microenterprises, and agricultural companies across 8 of Bolivia's 9 departments, with documented reach to over 100,000 farming families and 340,000 hectares of crops.

The foundation's core offerings include a proprietary line of bioinputs and biofertilizers (TRICOBAL, VIGORTOP, BIOMAX, ENERGY TOP, BIOBULL, and pheromone traps achieving up to 85% pest reduction) based on native microorganisms and plant extracts developed through 20+ years of research. It also operates AGROLAB, a specialized laboratory service combining plant health and microbiology testing, and provides technical assistance, customized training, and project development services. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on field days, demonstration plots, webinars (with documented reach of 933+ attendees per session), workshops, and international symposiums to disseminate innovations.

PROINPA's revenue model is grant- and service-based: it designs and executes development projects funded by international donors and government agencies (notably the European Union through AL-INVEST Verde and GP-SAEP, JICA/JST from Japan, Swiss and Swedish cooperation, and AECID from Spain), supplemented by subsidized course fees (Bs 300 for a 10-seminar course) and laboratory services. Notable partners include sequa gGmbH, Swisscontact, JIRCAS, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (UMSA), and the National Academy of Sciences of Bolivia. The organization is led by General Manager Rolando Oros, with a board including Dr. Einstein Tejada, and counts late founders Antonio and Edson Gandarillas among its legacy leadership.

Name

Fundación PROINPA

Legal name

Fundación PROINPA

Website

https://proinpa.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Fundación PROINPA is a Bolivian nonprofit science and technology foundation that develops agricultural innovations in bioinputs, regenerative agriculture, and agrobiodiversity to serve smallholder farmers, microenterprises, and agricultural companies across Bolivia, funded primarily through international development grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Research and Extension Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (1151)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Carbon, Sustainability & Farm Certification Support (Agro-Environmental Advisory) (AFACABAL), Organic & Biological Input Retail (Biostimulants, Biopesticides, OMRI) (AFABAJAK), Sustainable/Regenerative Agriculture & Conservation Practices (EDAOAOAO), Nutrition & Food Security (Global Health) NGOs (HLAJAKAH)

Keywords

• Agricultural research services
• Biofertilizer products
• Regenerative agriculture
• Agrobiodiversity conservation
• Crop pest management

Headquarters

HQ city

Quillacollo (Cochabamba)

HQ country

Bolivia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Project Execution: Design and execution of development projects for agricultural producers, microenterprises, and agricultural companies, funded by international donors and government agencies.
2. Specialized Laboratory Services (AGROLAB): Plant Health Laboratory and Microbiology Laboratory providing testing and analysis services for the agricultural sector.
3. Technical Assistance and Training: Customized training events and technical assistance delivered to strategic partners, municipal technicians, NGO technicians, and producer groups nationwide.
4. Course Fees: Educational courses on agrobiodiversity, climate change, and resilient food production offered at subsidized rates (Bs 300 for full course of 10 seminars, Bs 50 per individual seminar).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Fundación PROINPA is a Bolivian non-profit science and technology foundation that promotes agricultural innovation for family farming. It develops and supplies proprietary bioinputs and biofertilizers (TRICOBAL, VIGORTOP, BIOMAX, ENERGY TOP, BIOBULL, and pheromone traps) for crop nutrition and pest control, and delivers specialized laboratory testing through its AGROLAB plant health and microbiology laboratories, project development/execution services, and customized technical assistance and training for farmers, MSMEs, and partner organizations across Bolivia.

Product overview

Fundación PROINPA is a science and technology organization that offers a portfolio of bioinput products (Bioinsumos and Biofertilizers including TRICOBAL, VIGORTOP, BIOMAX, ENERGY TOP, BIOBULL, and pheromone traps), specialized laboratory services through AGROLAB (Plant Health and Microbiology), and project development and technical training services. The organization focuses on sustainable agricultural innovation for family farming in Bolivia, with strategic emphasis on agroecological intensification, regenerative agriculture, and agrobiodiversity conservation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bioinsumos and Biofertilizers (TRICOBAL, VIGORTOP, BIOMAX, ENERGY TOP, BIOBULL) Proprietary agricultural bioinputs based on native microorganisms, plant extracts, and mineral broths and concentrates, including TRICOBAL, VIGORTOP, BIOMAX, ENERGY TOP, and BIOBULL, designed for crop growth promotion, pest control, and soil health management in organic and conventional production systems. Sold to agricultural producers, MSMEs, and processing companies in Bolivia.
• Pheromone Traps (Feromonas) Pheromone-based traps for controlling insect pests (ticona and polilla moths) in quinoa and potato crops, achieving up to 85% effectiveness in pest population reduction. Sold or distributed to producers in Bolivia's Altiplano and other agricultural regions.
• AGROLAB Specialized Laboratories Specialized laboratory testing services comprising a Plant Health Laboratory and a Microbiology Laboratory, providing analytical and diagnostic services to agricultural producers, companies, and partner organizations in Bolivia's agricultural sector.
• Project Development and Execution Services Design and execution of agricultural development projects for entrepreneurial producers, micro-enterprises, and agricultural and livestock companies, typically financed by international cooperation donors and government agencies. Targets producers and enterprises seeking productivity and sustainability improvements.
• Technical Assistance and Training Services Customized technical assistance and training events delivered to strategic partners, municipal technicians, NGO technicians, and producer groups at the national level. Supports capacity building on bioinput use, regenerative agriculture, and sustainable production practices.
• Educational Courses on Agrobiodiversity, Climate Change, and Resilient Food Production Structured educational course comprising 10 seminars on agrobiodiversity, climate change, and sustainability in resilient food production, offered at a subsidized price to producers, technicians, and the broader public. Individual seminars are available à la carte at Bs 50; the full course is priced at Bs 300.

Quantifiable outcome

• 340,000 hectares of crops with PROINPA innovations
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Academia Nacional de Ciencias de BoliviacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Joint thesis competition launch for Bolivian youth on sustainable and regenerative agriculture topics, with awards 'Humberto Gandarillas Santa Cruz' for quinoa-related work and 'Antonio Gandarillas Antezana' for valley and plains crops.
• Ayuda en Acción FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2024Organizing entity for AL-INVEST Verde project presentations in La Paz, bringing together PROINPA and consortium partners.
• sequa gGmbHcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 May 2024Leader of the Executing Consortium for AL-INVEST Verde in Bolivia, implementing the sustainable growth of MSMEs working with Royal Quinoa through regenerative agriculture and circular economy, funded by the European Union.
• Impacto Positivo en la Comunidad (IPC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 May 2024Member of the AL-INVEST Verde consortium executing the sustainable quinoa production project in Bolivia.
• Trivium FoundationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 May 2024Partner in the AL-INVEST Verde consortium for sustainable quinoa value chain development in Bolivia.
• INTAGROminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Cooperation for soybean crop evaluation and development, with joint field days at Los Sueños property in Santa Cruz.
• CANIOBminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2024Partner in soybean crop evaluation and development cooperation with INTAGRO and PROINPA.
• ANAPO (Asociación de Productores de Oleaginosas y Trigo)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024Framework cooperation agreement signed February 24, 2024 for inter-institutional collaboration in agricultural innovation and productivity.
• Japanese Universities (Kyoto, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 November 2021Research partner universities contributing expertise to the Bolivia-Japan agroecosystem resilience project.
• PRO-CAMÉLIDOScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2021Agreement signed to improve productivity in quinoa and llama-based production systems in the context of climate change.
• Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2021Lead Japanese research institution for joint Bolivia-Japan project on arid agroecosystem resilience, represented by Dr. Yasunari Fujita as project leader.
• Universidad Mayor de San Andrés (UMSA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021Bolivian university partner in joint Bolivia-Japan project, represented by Dr. Giovana Almanza as Bolivia project leader, focusing on direct farmer outreach through coordinated work.
• SwisscontactcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 March 2021Implementing partner for bioinput promotion project funded by Swiss and Swedish Cooperation, working with PROINPA to strengthen capacities of bioinput providers.
• PROSUCOminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020Allied institution supporting APPOA (Association of Organic Andean Products Producers) in Cañahua production and commercialization.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CIRAD: French agricultural research and international cooperation organization working on sustainable agriculture in developing countries. Comparable in applied research focus, multi-donor funding base, and work with smallholder farming systems across Latin America, Africa, and Asia.
• Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT: International CGIAR research-for-development organization delivering applied agricultural science to smallholder farmers in the Global South. Highly comparable nonprofit S&T model focused on crop diversity, soil health, and climate adaptation in tropical and Andean geographies.
• INIA (Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria, Peru): Peru's national agricultural innovation agency with parallel programs on Andean grains, native crop conservation, and smallholder productivity. Highly comparable mission and beneficiary base across the Andean region with similar bioinput and germplasm work.
• INIAP (Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Ecuador): Ecuador's national agricultural research institute with a mandate for Andean crops including quinoa, potato, and Andean grains. Directly comparable as a publicly funded S&T organization focused on similar crops, smallholder producers, and regenerative practices in an adjacent Andean country.

Broad incumbents

• World Agroforestry (ICRAF): CGIAR center focused on agroforestry, soil restoration, and climate-resilient landscapes globally. Comparable as an international S&T nonprofit working on regenerative land management and smallholder livelihoods, though operating at much broader geographic and thematic scale.
• AVINA Foundation: Latin American philanthropic foundation funding sustainable development across the region. Comparable as a regional nonprofit channeling international cooperation funding to local implementers in agriculture, conservation, and rural livelihoods.
• CGIAR System Organization: Global consortium coordinating international agricultural research for development across 15 centers. Comparable as the umbrella for many of PROINPA's peer institutions and a model for how applied agricultural R&D is structured and funded internationally.

Others

• Swisscontact: Swiss foundation for international development cooperation, currently a key implementing and funding partner for PROINPA's bioinput promotion projects. Comparable as a nonprofit intermediary that channels Swiss and Swedish cooperation funding to local agricultural implementers in Bolivia and beyond.
• Andean Naturals: Private US-based company sourcing and marketing Royal Quinoa from Bolivia and Peru. Adjacent value-chain counterpart: PROINPA supports the smallholder producers who supply Andean Naturals, making it a relevant downstream ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.
• JIRCAS (Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences): Japanese public-sector agricultural research organization leading the Bolivia-Japan resilience project alongside PROINPA. Comparable as an applied international agricultural research center, though typically operating as the funder/lead partner rather than the in-country implementer.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PROINPA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fundaci-n-proinpa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Fundación PROINPA