In a country marked by historical inequalities, deep social tensions and major structural challenges, Bautista proposed overcoming the binary discourses that have dominated the agrarian debate: “It is no longer a question of rich versus poor, nor of large versus small. Rural development must be viewed from a broader, more inclusive perspective, connected to the challenges of the 21st century.

From RIMISP, Bautista put forward a renewed vision where human capital, bioeconomy, technological innovation and environmental sustainability occupy a central place. “We cannot continue to understand agriculture solely in terms of land ownership. We need new land use figures, more flexible associative models, incentives for productivity, and a public policy that recognizes the diversity of territories and actors,” he said.

The director of RIMISP in Colombia underlined the enormous potential that the country has to build a new rurality based on:

• The bioeconomy as an engine of clean and intelligent development.
• Leveraging digital technologies (AgTech) to improve productivity.
• Articulation with sustainable and differentiated markets.
• Strengthening local capacities to adapt to climate change.
  
  

But he was also clear in warning that Colombia faces urgent challenges: persistent conflict, gaps in state presence, institutional fragmentation and the structural exclusion of large rural sectors.

“True rural transformation involves building consensus between sectors, renewing public policies from the territorial level, and moving towards a fairer, more sustainable and resilient model,” concluded Bautista.

This participation reaffirms Rimisp’s commitment to a Latin America where rural development is not a marginal issue, but a central axis of equity, peace and sustainability.