Promoting Biodiversity-Friendly Agriculture in Colombia

Fiona Rodgerson volunteered in Colombia in March 2020 to support Selva by designing, organizing, and facilitating workshops focused on organizational strengthening, product quality and the benefits of implementing bird and pollinator-friendly practices. Miss Rodgerson has a BA in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and is completing her MA in Global Development, International Agriculture and Rural Development. In the past, she has done research in Chile, Ecuador and Colombia. 

SELVA is a not-for-profit non-governmental organization dedicated to research and projects that contribute to conservation in Colombia. Their mission is to undertake rigorous scientific research programs that facilitate the design, promotion and implementation of conservation actions for the benefit of the local biodiversity and people. Their efforts include projects that support local farmers and cooperatives practicing or promoting biodiversity-friendly agriculture (such as shade-grown coffee and cacao) in priority conservation areas. One of the major challenges facing these farmers includes lack of organizational capacity, which in turn limits efforts to achieve goals, standardize production and processes, and ultimately access specialty markets. 

In an attempt to support coffee and cacao farmers in addressing these challenges, Fiona performed needs assessments with farmer cooperatives and local technicians, and subsequently designed and delivered workshops focused on strengthening organizational capacities. These workshops included facilitating the elaboration of cooperative statutes, mission and vision, as well as group SWOT analyses that contributed to the development of short, medium, and long-term goals. Additionally, Miss Rodgerson conducted research on specialty market development and facilitated communication with organizations with knowledge and contacts in sustainability and specialty coffee and cacao markets.

After her assignment Fiona said: "In the two weeks I spent with SELVA, I learned a great deal and am left with lots to think about. From initial field visits, I gained better understanding of Colombian cacao and coffee production and the technical challenges involved in the pre-harvest and post-harvest. Furthermore, through informal interviews with farmers and association leadership, I learned a great deal about the diverse challenges facing small cooperatives, information that will prove useful in working with cooperatives in the future. In terms of my own professional interests, the conversations with farmers and technicians about the labor crisis in the countryside and the disinterest of youth in farming encouraged me to focus my future efforts whenever possible on young farmers, and even to engage in educational projects with rural youth, something I had not considered before."

Thanks to Fiona's help, the conservation and sustainable use of environmental and natural resources improved, the profitability of the agroforestry sector for smallholder farmers increased, and farmer associations were strengthened.