Efectos del COVID-19 sobre las cadenas de suministro de productos agropecuarios en Colombia y recomendaciones para mejorar en el marco de la recuperación

This policy brief examines the impact of COVID-19 on Colombia's agricultural supply chains, highlighting structural weaknesses in transport infrastructure, a lack of digitalization, and high food waste (34% annually). It recommends diversifying transport modes (rail and river), modernizing the cargo fleet with electric and biofuel vehicles, and implementing climate change adaptation measures in infrastructure. The brief also emphasizes the need for a national information system and the promotion of short supply circuits to enhance food security and rural development.

• While agricultural production was exempt from mobility restrictions during COVID-19 lockdowns, structural difficulties persist and may be worsened by declining rural household incomes. In the period from March to July 2020 compared to 2019, average labor incomes in rural areas continued to fall despite an increase in the employment rate.
• Colombia's transport infrastructure for agricultural products is deficient, with the country ranking 104th out of 141 countries in perceived road infrastructure quality according to a 2019 World Economic Forum study. Furthermore, 76% of cargo vehicles are over 20 years old, and there is a significant lack of cold chain capabilities, which threatens food security.
• The document recommends diversifying transport modes by increasing the use of rail and river transport to improve energy efficiency, reduce environmental and economic costs, and decrease regional inequalities. In 2018, rail transport moved over 78 million tons, but 99.95% of this was coal, indicating a lack of diversification into agricultural products.
• Climate change poses a significant risk to Colombia's agricultural supply chains, as expected increases in temperature and changes in precipitation will affect food production, commercialization, and demand. The document argues that infrastructure projects must incorporate climate change adaptation to prevent floods and landslides.
• Colombia faces high levels of food loss and waste, with 34% of the national food supply wasted annually. Of this, 64% occurs during production, storage, industrial processing, and post-harvest stages, while 36% occurs during commercialization, distribution, and consumption.
• There is a critical need for a digital information system to help producers manage supply chain risks and allow consumers to make informed decisions. The document notes that a lack of digitalization capabilities severely affected agricultural marketers during the pandemic.
• To improve the resilience of the food system, the document recommends promoting short supply circuits, such as farmers' markets, local public procurement, and agro-fairs, while strengthening producers' skills in digital solutions and quality standards.
• The document suggests accelerating the modernization of the cargo fleet by promoting electric trucks and alternative fuels, such as biofuels, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve sustainability.

APA

Ramos, J. L. D. (n.d.). Efectos del COVID-19 sobre las cadenas de suministro de productos agropecuarios en Colombia y recomendaciones para mejorar en el marco de la recuperación. Transforma. https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/CARTILLA-1-CADENAS-DE-SUMINISTRO.pdf

Chicago

Ramos, Jose Luis Diaz. Efectos del COVID-19 sobre las cadenas de suministro de productos agropecuarios en Colombia y recomendaciones para mejorar en el marco de la recuperación. Transforma, n.d. https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/CARTILLA-1-CADENAS-DE-SUMINISTRO.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Ramos |first1=Jose Luis Diaz |title=Efectos del COVID-19 sobre las cadenas de suministro de productos agropecuarios en Colombia y recomendaciones para mejorar en el marco de la recuperación |publisher=Transforma |url=https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/CARTILLA-1-CADENAS-DE-SUMINISTRO.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{ramosndefectos, author = {Ramos, Jose Luis Diaz}, title = {{Efectos del COVID-19 sobre las cadenas de suministro de productos agropecuarios en Colombia y recomendaciones para mejorar en el marco de la recuperación}}, institution = {Transforma}, url = {https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/CARTILLA-1-CADENAS-DE-SUMINISTRO.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }