The World Bank is lending Columbia US$30m to improve the competitiveness of its food production, to help increase its exports, especially of poultry, beef and milk products.


The loan will be spent on improving technology, research and innovation in these key sectors, and also strengthening Columbia’s food safety standards generally. This will be achieved through the training of professionals whilst designing and creating a Columbian sanitary and phytosanitary information network. World Bank project manager Matthew McMahon said: “(This) will help agricultural producers to become more competitive and take advantage of their potential for fulfilling the global demand for quality, environment-friendly and safe food products.”