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Current overview of Hass avocado in Colombia. Challenges and opportunities: a review

Visão geral atual do abacate Hass na Colômbia. Desafios e oportunidades: uma revisão

ABSTRACT:

Colombia is the fourth largest avocado producer globally and the third largest in terms of harvested area, with a 6% share of the world area. The development and promotion of this production line represents an important source of growth in agriculture for Colombia, due to the generation of rural employment, equitable development across the different regions of the country, and due to the diversity of thermal floors and the different varieties planted. Imports of this product have decreased by 96% in the last four years from 3128 tons in 2014 to 133 tons in 2017. In recent years, the projects developed in the Colombian avocado sector have been aimed at the foreign market due to the profitability and demand of the Hass variety of this fruit. In addition, there is a state effort to implement plans for regions free of quarantine pests that allow access to foreign markets. This constitutes a strategic proposal made up of a coherent set of objectives, strategies and programmes which, based on a vision of the future, seek the initial goal of doubling the area of production. That move would ensure the technological and innovative conditions for sustainable and quality production, as well as achieve full links in international markets. This review aimed to know the main developments of avocado production in Colombia, its challenges and opportunities for the next decade.

Key words:
fruit growing; production chains; research; technological development.

RESUMO:

A Colômbia é o quarto produtor e o terceiro em termos de área colhida, com uma participação de 6% da área mundial. O desenvolvimento e a promoção desta linha produtiva representam para a Colômbia uma importante fonte de crescimento na agricultura, para a geração de emprego e desenvolvimento rural com equidade para as diferentes regiões do país, devido à diversidade de pisos térmicos e às diferentes variedades plantadas. As importações deste produto diminuíram 96% nos últimos quatro anos, passando de 3128 toneladas em 2014 para 133 toneladas em 2017. Nos últimos anos, os projetos desenvolvidos no setor de abacate colombiano têm como objetivo o mercado externo devido à lucratividade desta fruta por sua demanda com a variedade Hass. Além disso, há um esforço estatal para implementar planos para regiões livres de pragas de quarentena que permitem o acesso a mercados estrangeiros. Dessa forma, constitui uma proposta estratégica composta por um conjunto coerente de objetivos, estratégias e programas que, com base em uma visão de futuro, buscam o objetivo inicial de duplicar a área de produção, garantindo condições tecnológicas e de inovação com alcance total nos mercados internacionais. Esta revisão tem como objetivo conhecer os principais desenvolvimentos da produção de abacate na Colômbia, seus desafios e oportunidades para a próxima década.

Palavras-chave:
fruticultura; cadeias produtivas; pesquisa; desenvolvimento tecnológico

INTRODUCTION:

In recent years in Colombia, the areas where avocado (Persea americana Mill) is planted have had a significant increase, not only because through research and the experiences farmers have increased knowledge about the management of the crop which generates confidence, but because the opening to international markets has generated certainty and better expectations for farmers who have chosen this fruit tree in the country. In addition, the avocado fruit has increased its demand in the markets for its functional compounds, given its beneficial effects on human health, since they have high amounts of monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants (WANG et al., 2019). The growing popularity of avocados has also led to the rise of avocado products, namely avocado oil. Avocado fat consists predominantly of monounsaturated oleic acid, which has been reported to reduce harmful low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, while maintaining beneficial high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and outperform typical low-fat diets (FULGONI et al., 2013FULGONI, V. et al. Avocado consumption is associated with better diet quality and nutrient intake, and lower metabolic syndrome risk in US adults: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2008. Nutrition journal, v.12, n.1, 1-6. 2013. Available from: <Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-12-1 >. Accessed: Sep. 05, 2020.
https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-12-1...
). Although, avocado is consumed mainly fresh, a substantial increase in the use of avocado-based products (for example, guacamole) and oil for cosmetic and culinary purposes, also suggested further market growth (BOST et al., 2013BOST, J.B. et al. History, distribution and uses. In: SCHAFFER, B.A. et al . (Eds.). The avocado: botany, production and uses. CABI Publ., Wallingford, UK, pp 10-30. 2013.). The pulp of the fruit is made up of 30% oil. Typical avocado oil has about 75% monounsaturated fats comprising oleic and palmitoleic acids, where 25% are saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (FOUDJO et al., 2013FOUDJO, B. et al. F.X. ATR-FTIR Characterization and Classification of Avocado Oils from Five Cameroon Cultivars Extracted with a Friendly Environmental Process. Environmental Engineering and Management Journal, v.12, n.1, 97-103. 2013. Available from: <Available from: https://doi.org/10.30638/eemj.2013.012 >. Accessed: Sep. 05, 2020.
https://doi.org/10.30638/eemj.2013.012...
). The pulp of the fruit is made up of 30% oil. Typical avocado oil has about 75% monounsaturated fats comprising oleic and palmitoleic acids, where 25% are saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (AKTAR & ADAL, 2019AKTAR, T. & ADAL, E. Determining the Arrhenius Kinetics of Avocado Oil: Oxidative Stability under Rancimat Test Conditions. Foods, v.8, n.7, 236-249. 2019. Available from: <Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/foods8070236 >. Accessed: Sep. 05, 2020.
https://doi.org/10.3390/foods8070236...
).

Additionally, foreign investment has recently become one of the main factors for the vertiginous increase of the planted areas, due to the country`s favorable climate that allows having permanent production during the whole year (GONZÁLEZ et al., 2018GONZÁLEZ, G. et al. Producción De Aguacate Hass una Alternativa para el Departamento del Huila. Crecer Empresarial: Journal of Management and Development, v.02, p.7-15. 2018. Available from: <Available from: https://journalusco.edu.co/index.php/cempresarial/article/view/1876 >. Accessed: Sep. 08, 2019.
https://journalusco.edu.co/index.php/cem...
) a key difference from what happens with other world producers. The socioeconomic importance of avocado at present contrasts with the reduction in area of one of the most representative crops of the country: coffee. The department of Caldas, considered a traditional coffee region, has seen a decrease of 15000 ha dedicated to coffee production between 2009 and 2018 (GRANADOS & VALENCIA, 2018GRANADOS, W.; VALENCIA, J. Cadena de Aguacate: Indicadores e Instrumentos. 2018. Availabe from: < Availabe from: https://sioc.minagricultura.gov.co/Aguacate/Documentos/2018-08-30%20Cifras%20Sectoriales.pdf >. Accessed: Sep. 25, 2019.
https://sioc.minagricultura.gov.co/Aguac...
). In contrast, there have been more than 8000 new ha planted in avocado, which makes this phenomenon one of the most evident impacts in the agricultural economy of the country, considered positive for avocado producers, and an opportunity for coffee growers (Figure 1 A).

Figure 1
A. Hectares planted with coffee and avocado crops in the department of Caldas between 2009 and 2018. B. Foreign sales of Colombian Hass avocado (2009-2019). Source: (AGENCIA DE DESARROLLO RURAL et al., 2019AGENCIA DE DESARROLLO RURAL, et al. Plan integral de desarrollo agropecuario y rural con enfoque territorial tomo 1. Caldas. 2019. Available from: <Available from: https://www.adr.gov.co/servicios/pidaret/CALDAS%20TOMO%201.pdf >. Accessed: Jan. 15, 2020.
https://www.adr.gov.co/servicios/pidaret...
). Modified by the author.

Futhermore, it is important to point out that, from the different varieties of avocado present in Colombia, Hass is currently one of the most planted with 20% of the total area (MADR, 2019MADR. Comienza el ordenamiento de la producción de aguacate hass. 2019. Available from: <Available from: https://www.minagricultura.gov.co/noticias/Paginas/Comienza-el-ordenamiento-de-la-producción-de-aguacate-hass.aspx >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2020.
https://www.minagricultura.gov.co/notici...
). Consequently, between 2016 and 2017 there were increases of 49% in the production of this variety in the country (FAO, 2017FAO. FAOSTAT. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2017. FAOSTAT. Available atfrom: <Available atfrom: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC/visualize > Accessed: Oct. 16, 2019.
http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC/v...
). Per capita consumption of avocado has been growing globally at a rate of 3.5% per year, in the global context, and it is projected to continue doing so for several years, reaching values of 0.85 (kilograms/person/year). This data showed a promising scenario for high producing countries, which could see their agricultural sectors profit as demand increases and incomes rise for producers (ARIAS et al., 2018ARIAS, F. et al. Dinámica del mercado mundial de aguacate. Revista Virtual Universidad Católica del Norte, v.55, p.30-48. 2018. Available from: <Available from: https://revistavirtual.ucn.edu.co/index.php/RevistaUCN/article/view/994 >. Accessed: Nov. 25, 2019.
https://revistavirtual.ucn.edu.co/index....
).

However, despite these figures, the country does not have enough information to allow it to apply technological developments to accompany the increase in new areas and safeguard current ones, in order to meet market requirements in fruit quality. The knowledge of the components of the productive function (genotype, environment and the interaction genotype x environment), would allow the country to understand more precisely the response of the species to the tropical conditions in which this fruit tree is currently exploited in the country (BERNAL et al., 2014BERNAL, J. et al. Actualización tecnológica y buenas prácticas agrícolas (BPA) en el cultivo de aguacate. Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria Corpoica. Medellín (Colombia): Corpoica, p.410. 2014. Available from: <Available from: https://repository.agrosavia.co/bitstream/handle/20.500.12324/12616/68164_64855.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y >. Accessed: Jan. 15, 2020.
https://repository.agrosavia.co/bitstrea...
). Thus this review aimed to know the main developments of avocado production in Colombia, its challenges and opportunities for the next decade.

Avocado cultivation in Colombia

Characteristics

In Colombia, the avocado can grow in different thermal floors, from 1000 m above sea level to 2300 m. Currently, more than 10 varieties of avocado are grown throughout the country, being the cv. Hass has seen the largest increase in area in the last 4 years, due to the demand of the product in international markets (GRANADOS & VALENCIA, 2018GRANADOS, W.; VALENCIA, J. Cadena de Aguacate: Indicadores e Instrumentos. 2018. Availabe from: < Availabe from: https://sioc.minagricultura.gov.co/Aguacate/Documentos/2018-08-30%20Cifras%20Sectoriales.pdf >. Accessed: Sep. 25, 2019.
https://sioc.minagricultura.gov.co/Aguac...
). According to this variation of climates, the composition, formation of secondary metabolites and nutritional qualities of fruits are highly variable and are influenced by factors such as climate, soil, temperature, humidity, amount of rain during fruit development and genotypic differences between cultivars (THOMAS et al., 2005THOMAS, R. et al. Cultivar variation in physicochemical and antioxidant activity of Alabama-grown blackberries. Small Fruits Review, v.4, n.2, p.57-71. 2005. Available from: <Available from: https://doi.org/10.1300/J301v04n02_07 >. Accessed: Jan. 12, 2020 doi: 10.1300/J301v04n02_07.
https://doi.org/10.1300/J301v04n02_07...
). Thus, understanding the physiological behavior of avocado plants from obtaining the rootstock, sowing, flowering, crop management and subsequent harvest, added to the interaction with the soil and the climate environment, is integral to defining the productivity and quality of the fruits.

Therefore, the management currently given to orchards can be potentiated in terms of sustainability and productivity if research is carried out in this line. Currently in Colombia, the demand for research for this production chain is over 158 projects, of which 14.19% are oriented to the harvest and post-harvest areas, and 13.51% to planting material and genetic improvement, being these two areas the most preponderant in number of projects demanded (Table 1) (PORTAL SIEMBRA, 2019PORTAL SIEMBRA. Total demandas de investigación en el sector agropecuario y agroindustrial. Aguacate. 2019. Available from: <Available from: http://www.siembra.gov.co/Demandas/Demanda/ReporteGrafica? >. Accessed: Abr. 10, 2020.
http://www.siembra.gov.co/Demandas/Deman...
).

Table 1
Number of research, development and innovation (R+D+i) projects demanded by the avocado agrochain in Colombia and their execution until 2020

Futhermore, it is noteworthy that areas such as environmental management and sustainability, as well as the quality and safety of inputs and products, have not yet implemented research projects, especially when these two areas are of particular importance in view of the challenges faced by the country in the international market (PORTAL SIEMBRA, 2019PORTAL SIEMBRA. Total demandas de investigación en el sector agropecuario y agroindustrial. Aguacate. 2019. Available from: <Available from: http://www.siembra.gov.co/Demandas/Demanda/ReporteGrafica? >. Accessed: Abr. 10, 2020.
http://www.siembra.gov.co/Demandas/Deman...
).

Economic importance of avocado

Avocado production in the world has been increasing considerably (ARIAS et al., 2018ARIAS, F. et al. Dinámica del mercado mundial de aguacate. Revista Virtual Universidad Católica del Norte, v.55, p.30-48. 2018. Available from: <Available from: https://revistavirtual.ucn.edu.co/index.php/RevistaUCN/article/view/994 >. Accessed: Nov. 25, 2019.
https://revistavirtual.ucn.edu.co/index....
); countries such as Mexico, Dominican Republic, Peru, Indonesia, Colombia, United States, Chile and Brazil are the largest producers (FAO, 2017FAO. FAOSTAT. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2017. FAOSTAT. Available atfrom: <Available atfrom: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC/visualize > Accessed: Oct. 16, 2019.
http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC/v...
). In the field of exports, Mexico leads the list with 46% of the total, while in imports, the United States, the Netherlands and France are the most demanding in the avocado market with 64% of total imports (FAO, 2017FAO. FAOSTAT. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2017. FAOSTAT. Available atfrom: <Available atfrom: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC/visualize > Accessed: Oct. 16, 2019.
http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC/v...
). Colombia is the fourth largest producer and the third largest in terms of harvested area, with a 6% share of the world’s area (GRANADOS & VALENCIA, 2018GRANADOS, W.; VALENCIA, J. Cadena de Aguacate: Indicadores e Instrumentos. 2018. Availabe from: < Availabe from: https://sioc.minagricultura.gov.co/Aguacate/Documentos/2018-08-30%20Cifras%20Sectoriales.pdf >. Accessed: Sep. 25, 2019.
https://sioc.minagricultura.gov.co/Aguac...
). As such, there is a promising scenario for the country in economic terms against the cultivation of avocado. However, there is a lack of studies to better understand the ecophysiology of the tree and its influence on the processes of growth, development and production in Colombia (FISCHER & ORDUZ-ROGRÍGUEZ, 2012FISCHER, G.; ORDUZ-ROGRÍGUEZ, J.O. Ecofisiología en frutales. In: Fisher, G. Manual para el cultivo de frutales en el tropico. Produmedios, Bogota, Chap. 3 p.54-72. 2012.).

Hass avocado variety

The green-skinned ‘Fuerte’ avocado was initially one of the varieties preferred by consumers. But, as many of the other new varieties selected, it was plagued by short harvest seasons and erratic yields. The black-skinned Hass variety was selected in the 1920s at Rudolph Hass’s farm in La Habra, California (SHEPHERD & BENDER, 2013SHEPHERD, J.S.; BENDER, G.S. History of the Avocado Industry in California. In: BENDER, G., (Ed.). Avocado production in California: A cultural handbook for growers, Book 1: Background Information. (2nd ed.). The University of California Cooperative Extension, San Diego County and The California Avocado Society. pp.1-18. 2013. Available from: <Available from: http://ucanr.edu/sites/alternativefruits/files/166823.pdf >. Accessed: Sep. 15, 2020.
http://ucanr.edu/sites/alternativefruits...
).

In Colombia, production of the Hass cultivar is constant throughout the 12 months of the year (GONZÁLEZ et al., 2018GONZÁLEZ, G. et al. Producción De Aguacate Hass una Alternativa para el Departamento del Huila. Crecer Empresarial: Journal of Management and Development, v.02, p.7-15. 2018. Available from: <Available from: https://journalusco.edu.co/index.php/cempresarial/article/view/1876 >. Accessed: Sep. 08, 2019.
https://journalusco.edu.co/index.php/cem...
), and especially during the months of October, January and February, which are different from other producing countries and make Colombia an alternative for times of low supply (Table 2).

Table 2
Harvest schedule of avocado cv. Hass in different producing regions of Colombia.

This variety is, along with strong, Reed and Collinred, one of the best for planting in cold moderate climate conditions in Colombia (1800 to 2600 m). Hass seems to present good organoleptic characteristics and has shown in Colombian soils higher yields per hectare than those presented by the main exporting countries, ranging from 12.4 to 18.8 t ha-1 in trees of 8 and 9 years old (BERNAL et al., 2014BERNAL, J. et al. Actualización tecnológica y buenas prácticas agrícolas (BPA) en el cultivo de aguacate. Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria Corpoica. Medellín (Colombia): Corpoica, p.410. 2014. Available from: <Available from: https://repository.agrosavia.co/bitstream/handle/20.500.12324/12616/68164_64855.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y >. Accessed: Jan. 15, 2020.
https://repository.agrosavia.co/bitstrea...
).

Hass avocado in Colombia. promotion and development of the crop

The area of avocado cultivation in Colombia began to expand in the sixties, replacing the native avocado by the ‘hass’, because this crop had greater acceptance in international markets, excellent organoleptic characteristics and greater resistance to the post-harvest process (CARVALHO et al., 2015CARVALHO, C. P. et al. Fatty acid content of avocados (Persea americana Mill. Cv. Hass) in relation to orchard altitude and fruit maturity stage. Agronomía Colombiana, v.33, n.2, p.220-227. 2015. Available from: <Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.15446/agron.colomb.v33n2.49902 >. Accessed: Jan. 19, 2020.
http://dx.doi.org/10.15446/agron.colomb....
). A little more than 17 years ago, the cultivation of hass avocados started in three scenarios: the East of Antioquia, the North of Tolima and the Department of Cauca. Another small nucleus was located in the departments of Eje Cafetero: Caldas, Risaralda and Quindío. In May 2010 the first export to Europe was made. Colombia had 5880 ha of ‘Hass’, highlighting the leadership of Antioquia as a producer, with more than 40% of the cultivated area (GRANADOS & VALENCIA, 2018GRANADOS, W.; VALENCIA, J. Cadena de Aguacate: Indicadores e Instrumentos. 2018. Availabe from: < Availabe from: https://sioc.minagricultura.gov.co/Aguacate/Documentos/2018-08-30%20Cifras%20Sectoriales.pdf >. Accessed: Sep. 25, 2019.
https://sioc.minagricultura.gov.co/Aguac...
).

In 2013 the main producing departments of avocado ‘hass’ are Antioquia, Tolima, Caldas, Risaralda, Quindío, Cauca, Valle del Cauca, Santander and Nariño, for 2018, Tolima, Caldas and Antioquia are the departments that continue leading the area planted with avocado ‘hass’ in the country (GRANADOS & VALENCIA, 2018GRANADOS, W.; VALENCIA, J. Cadena de Aguacate: Indicadores e Instrumentos. 2018. Availabe from: < Availabe from: https://sioc.minagricultura.gov.co/Aguacate/Documentos/2018-08-30%20Cifras%20Sectoriales.pdf >. Accessed: Sep. 25, 2019.
https://sioc.minagricultura.gov.co/Aguac...
).

According to the Horticultural Association of Colombia (ASOHOFRUCOL), it is estimated that by the year 2022, the departments with the greatest potential for development in the avocado production chain would be Antioquia, Tolima, Caldas, Risaralda, Quindio and Valle del Cauca, and that with the help of the Program of Productive Transformation of the National Government of Colombia for the year 2030 a production of more than 404.700 t of avocado will be reached. From that crop, 165820 will be of the variety ‘Hass’. In addition, they project a planted area of 31134 ha throughout Colombia, with more than 53% planted with var. Hass. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the Hass variety currently corresponds to 21% of the total avocado planted area in the country and it is estimated that about 68% of the planted area is in productive age, and the rest is in development stage, therefore it is expected that the annual production of the fruit will gradually increase (GRANADOS & VALENCIA, 2018GRANADOS, W.; VALENCIA, J. Cadena de Aguacate: Indicadores e Instrumentos. 2018. Availabe from: < Availabe from: https://sioc.minagricultura.gov.co/Aguacate/Documentos/2018-08-30%20Cifras%20Sectoriales.pdf >. Accessed: Sep. 25, 2019.
https://sioc.minagricultura.gov.co/Aguac...
).

At this point, it is important to highlight that in the National Fruit Plan (NFP) it was elaborated 2006, projected an increase of 11750 new hectares of avocado planted by 2026 (ASOHOFRUCOL, 2006ASOHOFRUCOL. Plan Fruticola Nacional. 2006. Available from: <Available from: http://www.asohofrucol.com.co/archivos/biblioteca/biblioteca_18_DIAGNOSTICO%20FRUTICOLA%20NACIONAL.pdf >. Accessed: Jan. 24, 2020.
http://www.asohofrucol.com.co/archivos/b...
). Likewise, it was estimated that the socioeconomic impacts of avocado for that same year would be GDP increases, greater numbers of direct and indirect jobs and increases in investment demand that led to a 67% increase in the socioeconomic impact of this crop compared to what was achieved in 2004. Likewise, it estimated the socio-economic impact of avocado for the same year represented by increases in GDP, a greater number of direct and indirect jobs and increases in investment demand that led to a 67% increase in the socio-economic impact of this crop compared to what was achieved in 2004. The current figures indicated that all forecasts are being surpassed and that the bet made by the national government and private entities in the cultivation of avocado has been a success for the country’s economy and ratify the coming commitment with the challenges that are foreseen in this productive system.

International market of avocado Hass

During the last 15 years, the avocado has been consolidated as one of the fruits of greater demand in the world (CAVALETO, 2015CAVALETO, G. The avocado market in the United States. VIII Congreso Mundial de la Palta. 2015. Available from: <Available from: http://www.avocadosource.com/WAC8/Section_07/CavalettoGiovanni2015.pdf >. Accessed: Dec. 10, 2019.
http://www.avocadosource.com/WAC8/Sectio...
). In Colombia, the avocado has traditionally been a high consumption food. However, the Hass variety only appeared on the national market since the year 2000. Ten years later, in May 2010, the first export of the fruit in a 20 t container to France took place. At that time the country had only 5500 ha of Hass; today Colombia is positioned as the fifth largest producer of this variety with 5.7% of world production, from more than 24000 ha cultivated (CCCA, 2015CCCA. Aguacate Hass: Una oportunidad cercana para los exportadores colombianos. Cámara de comercio Colombo Americana. 2015. Available from: <Available from: http://www.amchamcolombia.co/images/docs/aguacate.pdf > Accessed: Nov. 12, 2019.
http://www.amchamcolombia.co/images/docs...
). The value of exports has been increasing over time; while in 2017 sales were USD 52.94 million, in 2018 it increased by 18% to USD 62.73 million (ANALDEX, 2019ANALDEX - ASOCIACIÓN NACIONAL DE COMERCIO EXTERIOR. Exportaciones de Aguacate colombianas 2018. 2019. Available from: <Available from: https://www.analdex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/2019-03-Informe-exportaciones-aguacate-2018.pdf >. Accessed: Dec. 10, 2019.
https://www.analdex.org/wp-content/uploa...
).

Currently there are several destinations for Colombian avocado, the Netherlands being the main destination for exports of this product. According to Analdex statistics, it is estimated that from the avocado exports made in 2018, around 57% of the sales are directed to this European country. According to data from Procolombia, in the first half of 2019, exports of this product have increased by 37.6% (Figure 1B) and new destinations have been opened in countries in Europe and Asia. In Colombia there are currently 1710 producers who have cultivated more than 15000 ha, and ProColombia estimates that the country has the potential for 20000 ha.

Given the organoleptic characteristics and production throughout the year, it has allowed the opening of foreign markets and in order to consolidate export markets between 2010 and 2014, the national government, through the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA), signed 53 export protocols that allowed the entry of Colombian products to 18 countries. As of 2014, the health eligibility approach defined a target of 48 new products (two to the United States and 51 to the other countries), until 53 agricultural products became eligible in 2017 (DNP, 2018DNP -Dirección Nacional de Planeación. Colombia productiva y sostenible: Un proposito de todos. 2018. Available from: <Available from: https://colaboracion.dnp.gov.co/CDT/Prensa/Colombia%20productiva%20Actulización.pdf > Accessed: Jan. 08, 2020.
https://colaboracion.dnp.gov.co/CDT/Pren...
). Although, these figures are interesting and generate optimism, it should be clarified that the goal of products with sanitary admissibility to the United States was not met, since only two products obtained access (Cape gooseberry without quarantine cold treatment and hass avocado). This is due to the fact that Colombia lags behind in its ability to demonstrate the effectiveness of sanitary measures in terms of the appropriate degree of protection, in line with the principle of equivalence, according to the World Trade Organization Agreement (DNP, 2018DNP -Dirección Nacional de Planeación. Colombia productiva y sostenible: Un proposito de todos. 2018. Available from: <Available from: https://colaboracion.dnp.gov.co/CDT/Prensa/Colombia%20productiva%20Actulización.pdf > Accessed: Jan. 08, 2020.
https://colaboracion.dnp.gov.co/CDT/Pren...
).

In this sense, the sanitary measures are precisely those that had limited for years the access of avocado to the U.S. market since, under the climatic conditions of the Colombian territory, it was considered that there was a greater risk of propagation of pests typical of this fruit (VASQUEZ et al., 2019VASQUEZ, J.et al. Estudio de caso sobre la admisibilidad del aguacate Hass colombiano en el mercado estadounidense: Oportunidades en el Este de Asia. Revista Mundo Asia Pacífico, v.8, n.14, p.5-27. 2019. Available from: <Available from: https://plu.mx/pitt/a/?doi=10.17230/map.v8.i14.01 >. Accessed: Jan. 12, 2020.
https://plu.mx/pitt/a/?doi=10.17230/map....
). For avocado cultivation, the species Heilipus Lauri Boheman, Heilipus Trifasciatus Fabricius (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Stenoma catenifer Walsingham (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae), better known as fruit borers, were defined as quarantine pests restricting the trade of this product towards international markets (ICA, 2015ICA. El ICA capacita a productores de aguacate hass para exportación. 2015. Available from: <Available from: https://www.ica.gov.co/movil/noticias/3309.aspx >. Accessed: Dec. 10, 2019.
https://www.ica.gov.co/movil/noticias/33...
). Against this background, In recent years, strategies and programs have been advanced that have improved the production process and increased the possibility of accessing new markets, being competitive, sustainable and preserving the current ones. An example of this is resolution No. 448 of 2016 of the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA), by which “the requirements for the registration of the production of vegetables for fresh export, the registration of exporters and the registration of the packing plants of vegetables for fresh export are established” (ICA, Colombian Agricultural Institute-Resolution No 448, 2016), this resolution leads to the use of protocols established by the ICA for the management of pests of official control, in which the procedures of surveillance and control for the registered agricultural species are established. Demands such as these have generated greater control and have allowed the responsible accompaniment of new areas planted with avocado; by 2013, for example, Colombia had just over 80 avocado farms registered with the ICA, in 2017, only in Caldas, there were 152 registered farms (ICA, 2017ICA. 152 predios productores de aguacate Hass de Caldas ostentan el registro como proveedores de vegetales en fresco para exportación. 2017. Available from: <Available from: https://www.ica.gov.co/noticias/todas/152-predios-productores-de-aguacates-hass-en-calda >. Accessed: Dec. 18, 2019.
https://www.ica.gov.co/noticias/todas/15...
).

The above-mentioned indicated that the growth in area, production and participation in the international market of the Hass avocado in Colombia, has had the intervention and support of governmental and private entities that today support this productive chain, and make it promising for the Colombian agricultural sector.

Social and economic limitations in the production of Hass avocado in Colombia

Despite the increase in the area planted with ‘Hass’ avocado in Colombia in recent years, the production system has many limitations, due to rapid growth not always with adequate technological support, and planting in areas not suitable for this species (RAMÍREZ-GIL et al., 2018RAMÍREZ-GIL, J.G. et al. Potential geography and productivity of “Hass” avocado crops in Colombia estimated by ecological niche modeling. Scientia Horticulturae, v.237, p.287-295. 2018. Available from: <Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2018.04.021 >. Accessed: Sep. 15, 2019. doi: 10.1016/j.scienta.2018.04.021.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2018.0...
). Technological limitations in avocado cultivation are related to the scarce knowledge in aspects such as growth and development, phenology, rootstocks, ecophysiological studies, nutrition, use of growth regulators, water requirements and use of efficient native and introduced pollinators, among other aspects. This situation has prevented the country’s scientific community from understanding and potentializing the production process under conditions of the Colombian tropics (BERNAL et al., 2017BERNAL, J. et al. Fenología del aguacate cv. Hass plantado en diversos ambientes del departamento de Antioquia, Colombia. Memorias del V Congreso Latinoamericano del Aguacate. 2017. Available from: <Available from: http://www.avocadosource.com/Journals/Memorias_VCLA/2017/Memorias_VCLA_2017_PG_292.pdf >. Accessed: Jan. 24, 2020.
http://www.avocadosource.com/Journals/Me...
).

Ecophysiology of avocado

In Colombia, there are many environments where this fruit tree is currently cultivated; however, the response of the ‘Hass’ variety to this diversity of climates has not yet been sufficiently studied to guarantee its adaptability and, above all, its productive potential. According to a study conducted in 2018 on the geographical potential of the ‘Hass’ avocado in Colombia, it was determined that the areas with greater potential for this crop are the northern altiplano and the eastern slopes of the western Andes, the southwestern region of the department of Antioquia, as well as the altiplano region called Valle de Los Santos (department of Santander), and in the inter-Andean valleys of the department of Cauca. The region with the least suitable areas was the region of Sumapaz in the department of Cundinamarca, the eastern slope of the central Andes in the department of Huila and the Andean region of the department of Nariño (RAMÍREZ-GIL et al., 2018RAMÍREZ-GIL, J.G. et al. Potential geography and productivity of “Hass” avocado crops in Colombia estimated by ecological niche modeling. Scientia Horticulturae, v.237, p.287-295. 2018. Available from: <Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2018.04.021 >. Accessed: Sep. 15, 2019. doi: 10.1016/j.scienta.2018.04.021.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2018.0...
).

Rootstocks

Futhermore, despite the sustained increase in production and exports, there is currently a systematic lack of knowledge about the genetic identity and suitability of the rootstocks planted and those offered by nurseries. This increases the risk that the use of rootstocks poorly adapted to Andean conditions will decrease productivity in the long term (BERNAL et al., 2017BERNAL, J. et al. Fenología del aguacate cv. Hass plantado en diversos ambientes del departamento de Antioquia, Colombia. Memorias del V Congreso Latinoamericano del Aguacate. 2017. Available from: <Available from: http://www.avocadosource.com/Journals/Memorias_VCLA/2017/Memorias_VCLA_2017_PG_292.pdf >. Accessed: Jan. 24, 2020.
http://www.avocadosource.com/Journals/Me...
). In most of the Colombian planting areas of cv. Hass, there is incompatibility between the pattern and the crown, showing a lower growth in the patterns than in the cups; however, there is no information on the effect that this condition has on production or on the useful life of the orchard (BERNAL et al., 2014BERNAL, J. et al. Actualización tecnológica y buenas prácticas agrícolas (BPA) en el cultivo de aguacate. Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria Corpoica. Medellín (Colombia): Corpoica, p.410. 2014. Available from: <Available from: https://repository.agrosavia.co/bitstream/handle/20.500.12324/12616/68164_64855.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y >. Accessed: Jan. 15, 2020.
https://repository.agrosavia.co/bitstrea...
).

In countries such as the United States of America, Israel, South Africa and Australia, the use of clonal rootstocks is increasing every day, while in Latin America these have yet to be adopted to boost the productivity of orchards.

Pollinating insects

In Colombia, the increase in the area planted with avocado implies greater participation of pollinating insects such as bees (Aphis mellifera L.), the yields of most insects-mediated crops still depend largely on wild pollinators (GARIBALDI, et al., 2013GARIBALDI, L.A. et al. Wild pollinators enhance fruit set of crops regardless of honey bee abundance. Science, v.339, n.6127, p.1608-1611. 2013. Available from: <Available from: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1230200 >. Accessed: Jan. 08, 2020. doi: 10.1126/science.1230200.
https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1230200...
). Avocado pollination cannot depend only on bees (GRASS, et al., 2018GRASS, I. et al. Pollination limitation despite managed honeybees in South African macadamia orchards. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 260, 11-18. 2018. Available from: <Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2018.03.010 >. Accessed: Jan. 18, 2020. doi: 10.1016/j.agee.2018.03.010.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2018.03.0...
), but also on the diversity and abundance of insects naturally attracted by its flowers (CARABALÍ et al., 2017CARABALÍ, A. et al. Insectos polinizadores del aguacate (Persea americana Mill.) cv. Hass en Colombia. Corpoica, Mosquera, Colombia. 2017. Available from: <Available from: http://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=CO2019003821 >. Accessed: Jan. 05, 2020.
http://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search...
). Assessments in Pakistan and Kenya showed that among the visiting insects of avocado flowers, sucha as Lepidoptera, Diptera (MEHMOOD et al., 2015MEHMOOD, K. et al. Insect pollinators visiting citrus (Citrus limon) and avocado (Persea americana) fruit trees. Asian Journal of Agriculture Biology, v.3, n.1, 23-27. 2015. Available from: <Available from: https://www.asianjab.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/5-AJAB-15-139.pdf >. Accessed: Sep. 15, 2019.
https://www.asianjab.com/wp-content/uplo...
), Coleoptera and Hemiptera (ODANGA et al., 2017ODANGA, J. et al. Records of Arthropod Species Sampled from Avocado Plant (Persea americana Mill) in Smallscale Agro-ecosystems at Taita Hills and Mount Kilimanjaro. International Journal of Environment, Agriculture and Biotechnology, v.2, n.5, 2457-2465. 2017. Available from: <Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijeab/2.5.24 >. Accessed: Sep. 05, 2020.
http://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijeab/2.5.24...
) were present, thus demonstrating that there are other insects different than bees with potential for avocado pollination.

Pollinating insects are increasingly threatened and there are evident reductions in abundance and diversity. Such trend can be reversed through a combination of practices that include weeding before fruit harvest (VILLAMIL et al., 2018VILLAMIL, L. et al. Management practices and diversity of flower visitors and herbaceous plants in conventional and organic avocado orchards in Michoacán, Mexico. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, v.42, n.5, 530-551. 2018. Available from: <Available from: https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2017.1410874 >. Accessed: Sep. 05, 2020.
https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2017.14...
), conservation of wild flora and management of biological corridors, providing resources and nesting sites, making a targeted use of agrochemicals, and restoring forests and natural areas close to crops (CARABALÍ et al., 2017CARABALÍ, A. et al. Insectos polinizadores del aguacate (Persea americana Mill.) cv. Hass en Colombia. Corpoica, Mosquera, Colombia. 2017. Available from: <Available from: http://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search.do?recordID=CO2019003821 >. Accessed: Jan. 05, 2020.
http://agris.fao.org/agris-search/search...
).

Other production constraints

The sanitary problems of the avocado in Colombia are headed by root rot due to the fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands and the drying of trees due to Verticillium sp. (BERNAL et al., 2014BERNAL, J. et al. Actualización tecnológica y buenas prácticas agrícolas (BPA) en el cultivo de aguacate. Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria Corpoica. Medellín (Colombia): Corpoica, p.410. 2014. Available from: <Available from: https://repository.agrosavia.co/bitstream/handle/20.500.12324/12616/68164_64855.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y >. Accessed: Jan. 15, 2020.
https://repository.agrosavia.co/bitstrea...
). Many insects are associated with avocado in Colombia, but most of them are beneficial or harmless. Among the main pests are those with sucking habits, such as Monalonion, thrips, scale insects and mites. Also those with chewing habits, among which are the fruit and seed drillers and the Marceños (BERNAL et al., 2014BERNAL, J. et al. Actualización tecnológica y buenas prácticas agrícolas (BPA) en el cultivo de aguacate. Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria Corpoica. Medellín (Colombia): Corpoica, p.410. 2014. Available from: <Available from: https://repository.agrosavia.co/bitstream/handle/20.500.12324/12616/68164_64855.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y >. Accessed: Jan. 15, 2020.
https://repository.agrosavia.co/bitstrea...
).

Futhermore, the ‘Hass’ avocado in Colombia is produced mainly without irrigation, depending on rainfall to ensure production (DORADO et al. 2017DORADO et al . Requerimientos hídricos del cultivo de aguacate (Persea americana) variedad Hass en zonas productoras de Colombia. Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria Corpoica . Mosquera (Colombia): Corpoica, p.90. 2017. Available from: <Available from: http://editorial.agrosavia.co/index.php/publicaciones/catalog/download/14/12/115-1?inline=1 >. Accessed: Jan. 15, 2020.
http://editorial.agrosavia.co/index.php/...
), this means that at certain times of the year when there is not enough rainfall, the behavior of the tree may be affected, especially in its flowering phase and filling with fruit (ANGUIANO et al., 2007ANGUIANO, C. et al. Caracterización edafo climática del área productora de aguacate de Michoacán, México. Proc. VI World Avocado Congress - Viña Del Mar, Chile. 2007. Available from: <Available from: http://www.avocadosource.com/wac6/es/Extenso/3c-112.pdf >. Accessed: Dec. 08, 2019.
http://www.avocadosource.com/wac6/es/Ext...
).

In this sense, research should be carried out in the country to promote the implementation and adequate use of irrigation systems, since as it is stated (DORADO et al., 2017DORADO et al . Requerimientos hídricos del cultivo de aguacate (Persea americana) variedad Hass en zonas productoras de Colombia. Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria Corpoica . Mosquera (Colombia): Corpoica, p.90. 2017. Available from: <Available from: http://editorial.agrosavia.co/index.php/publicaciones/catalog/download/14/12/115-1?inline=1 >. Accessed: Jan. 15, 2020.
http://editorial.agrosavia.co/index.php/...
), technifying the Hass avocado crop with a drip irrigation system, increases production by at least 23%, applying the adequate layer, which would allow recovering the investment in at least two production cycles.

Challenges and opportunities for the avocado production chain in Colombia

The differential that has the production of Colombian avocado, is its supply of production throughout the year. This advantage could be a bet to reach high quality standards and become one of the markets that bets on the internationalization of this product, mainly in the United States which is one of the largest consumers of Hass avocado in the world. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR, 2019MADR. Comienza el ordenamiento de la producción de aguacate hass. 2019. Available from: <Available from: https://www.minagricultura.gov.co/noticias/Paginas/Comienza-el-ordenamiento-de-la-producción-de-aguacate-hass.aspx >. Accessed: Jan. 10, 2020.
https://www.minagricultura.gov.co/notici...
) , some of the challenges for the activity of planting, production and marketing of Hass avocado are: 1) to consolidate the organization of the chain; 2) to design a strategy to strengthen the follow-up, monitoring and control of free zones for sanitary admissibility; 3) to generate added value leading to market diversification; 4) to encourage technical assistance for the implementation of technological packages; and 5) to promote certification under traceability, quality and safety protocols.

It is important to consider at this point the need the country has to socialize with all the entities involved, which are the suitable areas for the establishment of the crop; at present, significant numbers of Hass avocado trees are constantly being planted without always taking into account the soil and climate characteristics of the area. It is very likely that, regardless of the soil and environmental offer where the trees are located, there will be fruits to be harvested. But the challenge for the country is to be productive and competitive, that is, to increase current yields and improve quality. Colombia has the potential to remain at the top of the list of countries with best yields and largest planted area, but as the number of trees planted grows, research and technical assistance must increase to accompany, for example, the 20182 ha of Hass avocado that were planted in the country in 2019.

CONCLUSION:

Continue and strengthen the phytosanitary programs of quarantine pests and policies of the national government through its institutions and in alliance with private entities in order to ensure sustained growth of Colombia as an important player in international markets. The prospects for growth of the avocado market in the international context remain high, as a result of the strong demand in the United States and Europe; while countries like China, which are not yet big buyers, show promise for increasing demand, which would further boost the existing market.

Colombia presents optimal conditions for the development of cultivation and obtaining crops at times different from the main producing countries. It is evident the need to deepen in the investigation of the avocado crop in areas such as harvest, post-harvest and transformation management, planting material and genetic improvement, and management of the productive system to have a sustainable and lasting growth in time.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors thank the administrative department of science, technology and innovation (Colciencias), and to the doctoral program in agricultural sciences at the Universidad de Caldas for the financial support.

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  • CR-2020-0903.R1

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    10 May 2021
  • Date of issue
    2021

History

  • Received
    28 Sept 2020
  • Accepted
    06 Jan 2021
  • Reviewed
    23 Feb 2021
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