Colombia’s seed sector closed the year on a positive note, highlighted by the 55th anniversary of the Colombian Association of Seeds and Biotechnology (Acosemillas), the continued strengthening of the authorized seed supply, and the rollout of new technologies to help address the challenges of climate change.
In 2025, the association hosted an academic forum bringing together companies across the value chain and producers from throughout the country to discuss research advances, the importance of traceability, and the need to boost agricultural competitiveness.
“They are milestones that reflect the role of seeds in the sustainability of Colombian agriculture. We have accompanied the producers for more than five decades and we continue working to guarantee quality and opportunity in the offer,” said Leonardo Ariza Ramírez, general manager of Acosemillas.
The seed market in Colombia reached a value close to 138.4 million dollars in 2024. In 2025 it remained stable with a slight growth of 1.4%. “The Colombian countryside has not stopped. Although the second semester was less dynamic, the sector is still an engine of national production,” Ariza Ramírez explained in a press release.
One of the main challenges highlighted by the union leader was the delay in approving new biotechnologies for corn cultivation, which have remained stalled for more than two years within the National Technical Committee on Biosecurity for Modified Living Organisms, the body responsible for this process.
“Althif modified genetics have not been banned in the country, the delay in approvals limits competitiveness and slows down the progress of the application in the field of these investigations,” the manager warned.
Added to this is seed piracy, which continues to be a serious problem. In crops such as rice, more than 78% are planted with sack seed; in soybeans, the figure exceeds 80%; and in potato, 90%. “The use of illegal seeds increases the risks of pests, diseases, weeds and therefore the costs of control. That is why we insist that farmers must acquire authorized and registered seeds, with traceability guaranteed by the ICA,” emphasized Ariza Ramírez.
Advances in Research
The year 2025 also saw significant advances in research and development. Companies and innovation centers worked on seeds with greater resistance to drought, flooding, pests, and diseases, leveraging plant-breeding approaches such as genome editing. Agricultural digitalization, the bioeconomy, and artificial intelligence continued to gain ground as key tools to support precision agriculture and strengthen food security.
- Plant biotechnology: New varieties of seeds resistant to pests, diseases and extreme climatic conditions were developed, especially in rice, corn and soy crops.
- Intellectual property protection: Mechanisms were strengthened to recognize and protect innovations in seeds, encouraging investment in research.
- Regional adaptation: We worked in seeds adapted to the productive realities of different areas of the country, from the Caribbean Coast to the Eastern Plains.
- Coexistence: The coexistence of native, Creole seeds with conventional, hybrid and genetically modified seeds is increasingly consolidated.
- Agricultural digitization: The use of digital tools for crop monitoring and seed traceability was promoted, improving efficiency in the production chain.
- Bioeconomy and sustainability: Innovation was aligned with the transition to more sustainable agriculture, integrating biodiversity conservation practices and emission reduction.
“We see more and more companies investing in research and development. Biotechnology allows us to face climate change and ensure that Colombia is competitive in the supply of seeds with greater technological developments,” said the manager of Acosemillas.
The association also emphasized the need to protect improved varieties through plant breeder rights and intellectual property registration, while advancing the development of the National Seed System to safeguard native and Creole seeds.
“We believe in the coexistence of technologies. Improved seeds and native and Creole seeds can coexist in the territories, as long as traceability and quality are guaranteed,” Ariza Ramírez explained.
For next year, Acosemillas plans to work in coordination with the government, unions, academia, and research centers to strengthen the authorized seed supply and help replace imported food inputs with national production.
The association expects 2026 to be a year of consolidation for the national seed system—despite a challenging political and economic environment—while also offering opportunities to position Colombia as a regional benchmark for agricultural innovation.
