Food systems in the Colombian Caribbean: Challenges and regional Responses

Also available in Spanish

On November 14, 2024, the seminar “Food Systems in the Colombian Caribbean: Challenges and Regional Responses” took place at the Jorge Taua Auditorium of the Universidad Tecnologica the Bolivar in Cartagena. This event was designed to foster reflection and dialogue on the challenges facing food security in the Caribbean region and the necessary responses to address them.

Organized by the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT in collaboration with the Universidad Tecnologica the Bolivar (UTB), the seminar brought together experts, researchers, academics, representatives from the public and private sectors, students, and civil society actors. They all shared a common goal: to discuss strategies and partnerships to address the challenges of food systems and develop policies that meet the region’s needs in this domain.

This event aimed to highlight the main challenges facing the Caribbean region’s food systems through a detailed diagnosis conducted within the CGIAR National Policies and Strategies (NPS) initiative. Its recent publication, “Guidelines for Current Governments in the Colombian Caribbean Region on Their Food Systems”, was a centerpiece. The event also showcased strategies being implemented in the region to adopt resilient practices and use digital tools to combat climate change through the creation of Innovation Territories.

Food security challenges in the Colombian Caribbean

The seminar presented key findings on the current state of the region: according to the 2022 National Quality of Life Survey, 58.4% of households expressed concern about food scarcity, with figures rising to 80% in departments like Córdoba. Additionally, over 70% of the region’s population identifies as poor, and a concerning 66.4% report a lack of variety and quality in their diets. The region is heavily dependent on food from other areas, wastes over 30% of harvested products, and lacks integrated policies to address these issues effectively. These challenges are also closely linked to other issues such as climate change, gender inequality, and labor conditions in the food sector.

“We decided to analyze the existing policies, instruments, and programs in the Caribbean region, starting with the most recent government management reports. This approach allows us to understand what is being done, where improvements are needed, and how research can contribute. We observed significant progress in how the region addresses food issues, major challenges such as food insecurity, climate change, overweight and obesity, and great opportunities to coordinate stakeholders, better understand difficulties, and collaboratively develop solutions.”

• Sara Rankin, Senior Research Associate, Alliance of Bioversity & CIAT.

Andrés Marrugo, Vice Chancellor of the Universidad Tecnologica th Bolivar, opened the seminar by emphasizing the insights gained during its preparation and the collaborative opportunities arising from these topics.

“While reviewing the PlaSA Colombia platform, I noticed that in 2019, food reaching Cartagena traveled an average of 592 kilometers. By 2023, this average increased to 635 kilometers. This trend raises serious questions about the planning and sustainability of the region’s food systems.”

The opening remarks also included participation from Angélica Villalba, Secretary of Economic Development of Bolívar, who emphasized:

“The tools provided by academia and science are fundamental for public institutions to improve in various sectors such as agriculture, health, and economic development. In my area of work, economic development, having data is crucial because we don’t operate in isolation. We are responsible for leading and strengthening value chains and productive networks. These data are not only valuable for the public sector but also enhance agri-food chains, directly impacting farmers’ productivity, markets, and regional dynamics.”

Key Reflections and Contributions from the Seminar

During the seminar, experts and panelists addressed the main challenges and proposed solutions to tackle this crisis. Among the key points, the importance of data-driven diagnoses and the need to align public policies to respond to the specific challenges of the Caribbean region were emphasized:

1. Food security and intersectoral coordination
   Although measures to improve food security have been implemented, the CGIAR National Policies and Strategies initiative report, led by the Bioversity Alliance and CIAT, highlighted the lack of integration between health, agriculture, and economic policies. The need for intersectoral collaboration was underscored as a key tool to ensure greater effectiveness and sustainability of actions to overcome food insecurity and uphold the human right to food.
2. Inclusion of women as agents of change
   Gender inequality in food systems is a critical issue. Rural women face specific barriers in accessing resources and opportunities. Panelists stressed the importance of actively involving women not just as beneficiaries but as leaders in food systems transformation processes.
3. Strengthening local markets
   Promoting local markets and reducing food loss and waste can improve the availability and accessibility of fresh produce, support local economies, and reduce costs. This approach, combined with improved information systems, would enable effective synchronization between supply and demand.

Discussion Panel: Food systems in the Caribbean region: The transformation we need

The panel, moderated by Katleen Marún, a professor at UTB, included:

• Michela Espinoza Reyes, Senior Specialist in Food and Nutrition Security, FAO Colombia.
• Eloisa Berman Arévalo, Researcher at North University.
• Gonzalo Tirado, Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, Bolívar Governor’s Office.

Michela Espinoza highlighted that: “The shift towards sustainable and accessible food systems requires joint effort. Globally, 733 million people face food insecurity, and 34% of food is wasted. In the Caribbean, we also have informal markets that need support. Creating a culture of provisioning food systems from central hubs is the challenge we must tackle—with the help of academia—by generating projects and programs that go beyond paper and truly reach more people and regions.”

Espinoza suggested a more inclusive approach to enhance production, accessibility, and nutrition by involving all stakeholders in food systems.

Gonzalo Tirado also emphasized the need to collaborate with national government and universities. “It’s a significant challenge, but we are developing public policies for food security and working with academia to ensure continuous improvement,” he said.

Professor Eloisa Berman added: “There’s still a need to integrate this systemic vision into local public policies. Planning instruments are lacking to incorporate this food systems perspective. We need designated areas for food production, infrastructure, and urban-rural planning tools with a focus on food security and the human right to food, which should guide the distribution and ultimate destination of agricultural produce.”

In the following video, you can explore the event’s objectives with Sara Rankin and diverse perspectives from some attendees:

La Alimentación en el Caribe Colombiano: Retos y Respuestas Regionales 

Integrating innovation in the Caribbean with Colombia Agroalimentaria Sostenible

Aligned with the transformation focus of Caribbean food systems, the Colombia Agroalimentaria Sostenible project was presented. This initiative seeks to reduce the vulnerability of Colombia’s agricultural sector to climate threats by promoting resilient production systems for maize, rice, sugarcane, panela cane, livestock, coffee, bananas, plantains, and potatoes. The project emphasizes the adoption of innovative technologies and digital tools to tackle climate change through both adaptation and mitigation strategies, benefiting 22 departments across Colombia. It is spearheaded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in collaboration with the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, along with over 17 key partners from the agrifood sector. Together, these organizations aim to strengthen the resilience of rural communities, improve agricultural sustainability, and foster inter-institutional cooperation to drive transformative change in the country agrifood systems.

In the Caribbean, the creation of Innovation Territories will foster creativity and inter-institutional collaboration to develop solutions that enhance food security, mitigate climate impacts, and promote economic development. The project works with various regional stakeholders to achieve these goals.

“From the Colombia Agroalimentaria Sostenible project, we are promoting the formalization of Innovation Territories to reduce climate vulnerability. These territories aim to integrate various public and private actors to manage agro-climatic risks through digital transformation, climate services, improved genetic materials, efficient water use practices, and emissions reduction. Additionally, they focus on gender inclusion, climate-based business models, and a modernized, robust public-private extension system with an adaptation and mitigation approach. These Innovation Territories will achieve collective and territorial impact across economic, social, and cultural dimensions”

– Luis Armando Muñoz, Research specialist at Alliance of Bioversity & CIAT

From Research to Action

“The food system is complex, involving multiple identities and nodes interacting simultaneously, which makes it difficult to interpret and analyze. Understanding this complexity, we need tools that enable public and private decision-makers to focus on developing more targeted interventions. This is how the Caribbean region, despite its many challenges, can advance.”

• Carlos González, Senior Research Associate, Bioversity Alliance & CIAT

This seminar was not just a reflection on data and statistics but a call to urgently address these issues with more integrated and evidence-based public policies. Discussions also highlighted the need for immediate solutions, such as reducing food waste and strengthening local markets, to improve the availability and accessibility of fresh, seasonal produce in the region.

The seminar marked a significant step in connecting research with public policies. As panelists pointed out, only through collaborative efforts among academia, businesses, governments, and civil society can we transform the Caribbean region’s food systems into more resilient, accessible, and sustainable models. This conversation on food security and the human right to food must now turn into a collective commitment to ensure a future where all households have access to adequate and nutritious food.

You can revisit this event by accessing the full recording here:

Authors

Daniela Salas Betancourt, communications NPS Colombia and Analyst, Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT.

Angélica Urbano, Communications PlaSA Colombia, Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT.

Sara Rankin, Senior Reasercher, Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT.

Photo credit: Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT.

This work is part of the CGIAR Research Initiative on National Policies and Strategies (NPS). CGIAR launched NPS with national and international partners to build policy coherence, respond to policy demands and crises, and integrate policy tools at national and subnational levels in countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. CGIAR centers participating in NPS are The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (Alliance Bioversity-CIAT), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), International Water Management Institute (IWMI), International Potato Center (CIP), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and WorldFish. We would like to thank all funders who supported this research through their contributions to the CGIAR Trust Fund.