Situated in the Orinoquía region of Colombia, the Meta department has abundant water resources and vast biodiversity. This is in one of the country’s primary agricultural hubs, and drives Colombia’s agro-industrial, commercial, and ecotourism sectors. Additionally, it serves as a significant agricultural reservoir, dispatching approximately 9,000 tonnes of agricultural and livestock products daily to other parts of the country.
However, out of the two million hectares available for farming, only 520,363 hectares are cultivated. That’s just 22% of the potential area. Furthermore, the food system's dynamics are flawed: most of the produce isn't consumed locally but is instead sent to different regions of Colombia through a complex network of middlemen.
Felicita Valderrama, a farmer and victim of the armed conflict, who came to Meta in search of better opportunities after being displaced, expressed the harsh realities of this system.
"The hardest thing for us farmers is that we have to take it to the middleman, because we suffer a lot to produce. You work and work every day, and when the time comes to harvest the crop, you go to offer it, and they pay you very little. That is disheartening."
It is in this context that the Meta Food Supply Network (La Red Meta) was born. This innovative initiative led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the public-private company Ecopetrol, was initially conceived to develop effective commercial strategies and actions aimed at strengthening associations and enhancing technical capabilities.
What makes this initiative particularly noteworthy is that it empowered women and youth in the region, improving the quality of life for farming families. The Meta Network fosters inclusive economic growth, reduces inequalities, and streamlines the entire production chain, bringing together various stakeholders from supply, demand, logistics, and public and private entities, all in collaboration with local governments.