Colombia has the potential to be a major food supplier for the international market according to the president of Crop Life, in an interview with Portafolio published Monday.
Carlos Buzio said Colombia could play an important role as a food provider because it is one of the few countries that has the scope for agricultural expansion due to good soils and climate, and workers with the aptitude for cultivating. Based on these, Colombia has the potential to become a global agricultural superpower Buzio stated.
He went on to say that while this potential exists, agricultural development requires the synchronized implementation of several factors such as infrastructure, innovation, science and research, credit for farmers, market research, and investment to name a few.
Traditionally, Colombia’s agricultural production has been consumed by the domestic market meaning that Colombia has to change its ways internally and externally if it is conquer the international markets of fruits and vegetables by fostering the spirit of the Colombian exporter according to Buzio. Furthermore, in order for these sectors to develop, the government needs to play an important role with regulatory systems and facilitating the export process.
Buzio pointed to the Colombian coffee, flower and banana sectors as being leading examples of export driven products that should help serve as an educational source for others wishing to enter the international market.
Crop Life, a regional association representing the crop science industry, which has among its members Bayer CropScience, and Monsanto, advocates the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the patenting of seeds which it claims promotes continued investment in research and development.