El control biológico y bioinsumos en la bioeconomía de Colombia

This SEI fact sheet analyzes the status of bio-inputs and biological controllers in Colombia's bioeconomy. While Colombia pioneered regional regulation in 2004 and has a growing market of 238 registered companies—primarily serving high-standard export markets—the sector is hindered by slow and costly ICA registration processes, a lack of farmer education regarding preventive technology, and the proliferation of unregistered artisanal products. The report calls for integrated state policy and increased research into non-soil-based biological controllers to transition toward sustainable agriculture.

• Colombia's bioeconomy strategy aims for a "sustainable productive agriculture" by utilizing agroforestry, agroecology, biotechnology, precision agriculture, and bio-inputs to increase productivity. In the Valle del Cauca region, agricultural sector representatives committed to increasing the use of bio-inputs and biological controllers to reduce pesticide use and achieve sustainability by 2050.
• Colombia was a pioneer in Latin America for bio-input regulation, with the Instituto Agropecuario Colombiano (ICA) establishing definitions, registration conditions for producers and importers, and efficacy trial protocols via a 2004 resolution.
• There are 238 registered bio-input producers or importers in Colombia, with 70% focusing on biocontrollers and 30% on biofertilizers. The primary customers are exporters of flowers, bananas, avocados, cereals, fruits, and vegetables, driven by strict quality and safety regulations in their destination markets.
• The bio-input sector in Colombia faces several significant challenges: - Regulatory hurdles: ICA registration can take up to 5 years and cost between US$ 13,000 and US$ 15,000. - Educational gaps: Traditional farmers often perceive bio-inputs as more expensive and slower-acting than curative chemical technologies. - Quality control: The sale of unregistered, artisanal bio-inputs can spread harmful microorganisms and damage the sector's credibility. - Research limitations: Most biological controllers target soil diseases rather than leaves and fruits, and many used in the market are cosmopolitan imports despite Colombia's biodiversity.

APA

Trujillo, M., & Yepes, Y. (2022). El control biológico y bioinsumos en la bioeconomía de Colombia. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/fact-sheet-controladores-biologicos.pdf

Chicago

Trujillo, Mónica, and Yudi Yepes. El control biológico y bioinsumos en la bioeconomía de Colombia. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2022. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/fact-sheet-controladores-biologicos.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Trujillo |first1=Mónica |last2=Yepes |first2=Yudi |title=El control biológico y bioinsumos en la bioeconomía de Colombia |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=February 2022 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/fact-sheet-controladores-biologicos.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{trujillo2022control, author = {Trujillo, Mónica and Yepes, Yudi}, title = {{El control biológico y bioinsumos en la bioeconomía de Colombia}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2022}, month = feb, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/fact-sheet-controladores-biologicos.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }