Embracing European Green Deal regulations through enabling and restricting drivers: a mixed assessment approach for Colombian case

Abstract

The enforcement of the European Green Deal (EGD) has introduced a stringent regulatory framework for agri-food products entering the European market, accelerating the transition toward sustainable, traceable, and biodiversity-friendly production systems. Given that nearly 75% of Colombia’s exports to Europe originate from the agricultural sector, assessing the country’s readiness to comply with these standards is strategically critical. This study adopts a mixed-methods approach structured in three phases. First, the alignment of Colombia’s national public policies, regulatory instruments, and legal frameworks with the five core pillars of the EGD was assessed: (1) sustainable use of agrochemicals, (2) circular economy, (3) biodiversity protection, (4) agroecological production, and (5) zero-deforestation traceability. Second, a scientometric analysis of peer-reviewed literature, complemented by expert consultation, was conducted to identify and prioritize enabling factors (EFs) and restricting factors (RFs) influencing the adoption of sustainable practices across agri-food value chains. Third, differentiated strategic action lines were proposed according to their level of influence and implementation horizon (short, medium, and long term). The results reveal that Colombia faces persistent financial, institutional, and operational constraints—particularly related to policy coordination, implementation costs, and producer readiness—that limit full compliance with EGD requirements. However, the analysis also highlights significant opportunities. Strengthening economic incentives, improving governance coherence, and integrating bioeconomy, agroecology, and circular economy approaches into national strategies emerge as key pathways to enhance competitiveness, sustainability, and long-term resilience of Colombian agribusiness exports.