Foundations for emissions reduction and improved nutrition in conflict-affected areas: The case of Colombia’s Cauca and Putumayo food environments

Food systems in conflict-affected regions face interconnected challenges related to environmental degradation, market disruptions, and persistent food and nutrition insecurity. This study characterizes the food environments of Cauca and Putumayo, two conflict-affected departments in Colombia, using a food system approach that integrates indicators of food consumption, agricultural production, distribution, transport-related emissions, and security dynamics. We combine household survey data, agricultural statistics, food mobilization records, spatial analyses, and climate and land-use suitability information to identify the gaps, bottlenecks, and inequalities shaping food availability, accessibility, affordability, and desirability. Study results show that Cauca has a diversified, commercially integrated agricultural sector with strong linkages to regional and national markets, but with apparent disconnects between local production and household consumption of nutrient-dense foods. Putumayo exhibits a more subsistence-oriented production system based on local consumption, as a result of limited infrastructure, market integration, and technical capacity. In both departments, perishable products dominate the short food supply chains, while long-distance flows reflect differentiated market demand. Extensive cattle ranching remains a key driver of deforestation risk, whereas diversified smallholder systems offer opportunities for improving dietary diversity and climate resilience. The findings highlight priority areas for intervention in infrastructure, market access, extension services, and governance, and provide policy-relevant insights for integrating food and nutrition security, climate mitigation, and peacebuilding agendas in conflict-affected territories.