Comercialização do café produzido pelas cooperativas da população em processo de reincorporação socioeconômica em Bogotá, Colômbia: uma abordagem territorial, comunitária e colaborativa

Abstract

After the signing of the 2016 Peace Agreement between the Colombian government and the former guerrilla group Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia – Ejército del Pueblo (FARC-EP), the process of Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) began, involving more than 10,000 men and women. Following the disarmament and demobilization phases, former combatants opted for a model of collective socioeconomic reintegration, organizing themselves into productive cooperatives as a strategy to ensure economic autonomy and sustainability in their new stage of life. Colombian coffee, globally recognized for its quality and cultural value, became one of the main productive pillars of these cooperatives. The choice of coffee was not only an economic decision but also a way to connect former combatants with networks of fair trade, solidarity economy, and rural development, integrating them into sustainable value chains. This study observed and discussed the dynamics of coffee commercialization produced by the population undergoing socioeconomic reintegration in the city of Bogotá, through territorial, community-based, and collaborative approaches. Although the findings revealed the complexity of the reintegration process for former combatants, they also demonstrated that the work of the cooperatives has had positive impacts both on income generation and on the members’ self-esteem. Additionally, the study aimed to contribute to the monitoring of the Peace Agreement’s implementation, offering input for the debate on reintegration policies, rural development, and social justice, while also helping to strengthen the promotion of a culture of reconciliation, peace, and prosperity in the country.