AGROSAVIA and co-innovation in Putumayo: Strengthening Territorial Innovation Systems for sustainable rural development

• The fundamental purpose of Territorial Innovation Systems (TIS) is to stimulate productive environments within farming communities, directly contributing to the overall well-being of rural households.

 

Florencia, Caquetá. August 13, 2026. Within the framework of the strategic commitment of the National Agrarian Reform System (SINRA, for its Spanish acronym), Coroporación colombiana de investigación agropecuaria – AGROSAVIA, together with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, is leading the consolidation of Territorial Innovation Systems (TIS) in the department of Putumayo, to transform the productive realities of farming communities. Through coordinated efforts from its Florencia-Costayaco office, AGROSAVIA promotes co-innovation processes that integrate technical and scientific knowledge with local knowledge, fostering technological adoption and strengthening governance for sustainable rural development.

As part of this strategy, AGROSAVIA has implemented a series of participatory methodologies, such as Farmer Field Schools (FFS), field days, and territorial learning tours, aimed not only at transferring technology but also at collectively developing solutions that are relevant to the territory’s agroecological and cultural conditions. A clear example of this approach was the territorial learning tour “Chocolate Route: Connecting the Land, the Flavors of Cacao, and the Landscapes,” held in the municipality of Orito (Mirador rural district), in coordination with FEDECACAO and with the participation of the Musu Pakarii agricultural association from the municipality of Puerto Guzmán and the association of cacao producers from the municipalities of Villagarzón and Puerto Guzmán, Asoprocavip.

This tour, designed based on needs previously identified together with the representatives of the associations, became a space for learning and knowledge exchange. The producers visited the agrotourism enterprise of Alexander Caicedo Bermúdez, an example of productive transformation: a farm that transitioned from illicit crops and sugarcane to 3.5 hectares of cacao grown under agroforestry systems, with 5 hectares of forest protected through a conservation agreement with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Colombia.

During the tour, participants not only learned about the processes involved in establishing, harvesting, fermenting, and artisanally processing cacao, but also strengthened their knowledge in:

• Good Agricultural Practices (GAP),
• Malaysian grafting for the renewal of unproductive plantations,
• Territorial experiences with cacao under agroforestry systems,
• Crop phytosanitary management according to the conditions of the Putumayo foothills.

The true value of the event, promoted by AGROSAVIA, lay in the dialogue between different forms of knowledge and the direct exchange of experiences among producers. This “farmer-to-farmer” approach is one of the key pillars in strengthening TIS, as it fosters trust, knowledge replication, and community cohesion. When the tour concluded, a roadmap of commitments was established to ensure the continuity of the learning process, guaranteeing that the adopted techniques are implemented in production units and shared among the communities.

Through this initiative, AGROSAVIA reaffirms its commitment to the department of Putumayo, not only by strengthening the technical capacities of cacao growers to help increase bean productivity and quality, but also by creating conditions for intergenerational integration, food security, and the development of new market opportunities. The ultimate goal is clear: for territorial innovation to translate into higher incomes and an improved quality of life for farming families, in harmony with the environment and lasting peace in the territories.