Thanks to its varied landscape and non-seasonal climate, Colombia has the potential to become an agriculture paradise and exporting giant. Yet, it looks like this is still far from becoming a reality.
Not Only Coffee
Colombia’s sweet and floral Arabica coffee is appreciated all over the world. Cultivated in the country’s mist-shrouded “Zona Cafetera” since the 16th century, coffee is still the country’s largest in-demand export product.
More recently, Colombia has also been experiencing a boom in fresh fruit exports. In 2019, 2.1 million tones of fresh fruit was sold internationally, with bananas, avocados, and plantains being the most popular, particularly in Europe. Colombia's organic product exports to the EU increased from 63,114 tons in 2018 to 87,341 tons in 2019, according to a European Commission report on EU imports of organic agri-food products.
Bananas, which generated 862.1 million in revenue for the country in 2019, are now Colombia’s largest export product after coffee. Avocados are Colombia’s fastest-growing product, with their value now 42% higher than it was in 2018.
The Challenges of Becoming the Next Export Giant
A study based on FAO statistics shows that with further funding and the right measures in place, Colombia could have the potential to produce even a higher variety of high-quality agriculture products year-round, and in large quantities. In fact, the country’s varied landscape, as well as its non-seasonal climate and ample water resources, could make it an agricultural paradise.
The Colombian Coffee Growers Federation, a non-profit organization at the forefront of promoting sustainable agricultural practices in Colombia, has been a key player in diversifying Colombia’s export offering and has been encouraging coffee growers to cultivate alternative food products.
However, that’s not enough. In spite of having over 39 million hectares suitable for agricultural production, the country currently cultivates roughly 5 million hectares. In addition, out of 106 high-potential agricultural export products, only 36 are now being exported while 28% of the food consumed in the country still comes from abroad.
Consequently, Colombia as an agricultural powerhouse still remains an unmet promise. The inadequate agro-logistical infrastructure is, along with the complex geographical characteristics of the country, responsible for this to a large extent.
To enhance its export potential, the country should invest in upgrading its logistics capabilities for perishable goods by developing consolidation centers and platforms to exchange modes of transport (eg. from road to rail/river), and ensuring a “cool” rail transportation service.
So, whether Colombia can become the next “exporting giant” largely depends on the ability to adopt more sustainable agricultural practices and to upgrade its logistics capabilities overall.
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