Colombia is the country with the second largest displaced population after Syria. Internal conflict has forced 7.7 million people to flee their homes and farms. At the same time Colombia is one of the most bio-diverse countries in the world (first on birds and orchids). In that context, after my experience in central banking, I wanted to apply my work into agricultural and natural resource management issues looking for sustainable alternatives in rural regions where inequality and conflict coexist with biodiversity protection challenges.

In 2010 I presented a proposal with my ideas to the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship board, and I was awarded with a full-tuition scholarship to continue my graduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh. I graciously accepted this scholarship with a sense of responsibility to establish collaborations and to evolve ideas that promote sustainable rural production and market opportunities for smallholders.

I was part of the team that represented Cornell at the Land Grant University consortium, a strategy from the US Government to incentivize policy dialogue and to promote rural development during post-conflict in Colombia.

Inspired by previous missions that successfully contributed to develop the flower sector in Colombia during the late 60’s (“Nebraska Mission”), we are promoting strategic partnerships and programs such as Cacao for Peace.

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