Author: Camilo Sánchez

Hidden deep in the heart of Colombia lies a thriving illegal business – the cultivation of coca leaf and production of its paste. A recent study by researchers from Bogota’s University of the Andes sheds light on this shadowy part of the economy, revealing the significant impact of peasant producers on the country’s economy. These producers, the first link in the coca supply chain, played a crucial role in the country’s economic growth, albeit unsustainable in the long run. Not only does coca production contribute to deforestation and environmental degradation, but it also fuels food shortages and humanitarian crises in…