Between Mining and Food Security: The Case of Colombia
studies; in the region, the averages of mining concessions
According to the latest available data on mining
by countries have increased to cover more than 10%
concessions in Colombia; between 1990 and 2001,
11
of each national territory. This situation invites us to
the Government conveyed 1.880 mining rights while
rethink the territorial configuration that is being shaped
in 2010 there were registered 8.928 concessions and
by activities such as mining, and how these will affect
20.000 in process applications.15 Half of these concessions
the food security of its population. This has undoubtedly
are concentrated in the mountainous areas of four
contributed to a high concentration of agricultural
departments: Cauca, Nariño, Antioquia and Chocó.16
land that again can have serious consequences for the
Moreover, the government has enhanced a strategy that
agricultural development of small-scale producers and as
favors agribusiness (African palm oil, flowers, sugar
such the food security of peasants in the long-run.
etc.) which illustrates that the development model that the Colombian government is promoting sees national
The case of Colombia
agriculture more as an obstacle rather than a potential area
Colombia has had some of the most prolonged social and
to invest. According to the United Nations Development
armed conflict in Latin-America, contributing to high
programme (UNDP): “this situation renders Colombia
rates of dispossession and forced displacement. According
more dependent on imports (including basic staples as
to the latest report by the International Office on Human
rice, cereals and corn) to guarantee food security.” 17
Rights - Action Colombia, the country has one of the
Along with the pressure exerted by mining
highest land concentrations in the world, which is under-
explorations between 2001 and 2011, the Database of
used for agricultural purposes.12 Only 4,9 million hectares,
social conflicts (Base de Datos de Luchas Sociales de CINEP/
of a total amount of 21,5 million hectares suitable for food
PPP) registered 274 social conflicts associated with
cultivation, are cultivated land.
the extraction of mineral, oil and carbon.18 There is no
Colombia’s social and armed conflict has been
doubt that the historical unresolved conflict of Colombia
triggered by a historically unequal land distribution.
concerning access to land is still present, but during the
Before the year 2000, the country attracted little mining
last years these conflicts has got new actors and been
investment as a result of the internal conflict. However,
intensified. Mega-projects have in many cases involved
with the government of Alvaro Uribe Velez from 2002 to
the expropriation of farmers, indigenous people and afro-
2008 and his policy of democratic security, this situation
descendants forcing them to leave and abandon their land
changed creating a sense of security that has driven foreign
and contribute to the concentration of land ownership.19 As Mabel Gonzales Bustelo20 asserts, “the semi-feudal
investment. In 2001 a new mining code compiled in the law 685 was introduced and is considered to be one
land-ownership and power model has been replaced by
of the most flexible mining policies in the continent,
a neoliberal model that confronts indigenous farming
making Colombia one of the most attractive places for
economies with major national farming and stockbreeding
multinationals investment opportunities. This has caused
interests, and with world economies, as well as finance
a general deregulation in social and environmental terms
capital, mega-projects, and transnational investments.” 21
allowing what PBI states as: “the unilateral expropriation of land suspected of containing minerals irrespective of
Some final remarks
who occupied that land, the policy cleared the way for
Today mining represents one of the main sources of
intensifying exploration and mining activities.”13
income in Latin-America that has generated further
The aim of the present government is to further
economic growth. This can encourage further industrial
stimulate mining exploitation in the coming years. The
development and economic benefits. However, these
President Juan Manuel Santos announced publically that
industries are today penetrating rural land that has great
mining would become one of the economic engines of
agricultural potential generating socio-environmental
Colombia’s development, bringing “prosperity to all, more
conflicts. Although the region today represents a major
jobs, less poverty and more security.” 14
food exporter and therefore plays an important role in 94