Colombian Agricultural Research Articles

3,4-Dimethylpyrazole Phosphate (DMPP) Reduces N2O Emissions from a Tilled Grassland in the Bogotá Savanna

Grasslands are subject to a wide range of land management practices that influence the exchange of the three main agricultural greenhouse gases (GHGs) that are related to agriculture: carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4). Improving nitrogen fertilization management practices through the use of nitrification inhibitors (NIs) can reduce GHGs emissions. We conducted a field experiment at the Colombian Agricultural Research Corporation with four fertilization treatments: urea (typical fertilizer used in this region), ammonium sulfate nitrate (ASN), ASN plus the NI 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (ASN+DMPP), and an unfertilized control. The highest grassland yields (1956 and 2057 kg DM ha−1, respectively) and apparent fertilizer nitrogen recoveries (34% and 33%, respectively) were generated by the conventional urea fertilizer and ASN+DMPP. Furthermore, the use of ASN+DMPP reduced the N2O emissions that were related to N fertilization to the level of the unfertilized treatment (ca. 1.5 g N2O-N ha−1), with a significant reduction of N-yield-scaled N2O emissions (ca. 20 g N2O-N kg N uptake−1). These results support the application of DMPP as an alternative strategy to increase grassland yield while simultaneously reducing the environmental impact of N fertilization.

Opportunities and challenges in the Orinoquia region/the territory for consolidating the Colombian Agricultural Innovation System

Opportunities and challenges in the Orinoquia region/the territory for consolidating the Colombian Agricultural Innovation System

Health composite indicator: risk of transmission of rabies virus

To design a composite health indicator on the risk of rabies virus transmission in the department of Meta, Colombia. Ecological, exploratory study. Data from secondary sources were collected from the databases of the Meta Department of Health and the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) for the period 2009 - 2014. The composite health indicator was created based on the normalization (logX) of the data and the selection of measures for the elaboration of three thematic indexes in the 29 municipalities of the department. They were integrated by means of the aggregation method, and their distribution was reflected in a geographical mapping with the zoning of the risk for rabies virus transmission in the department. In the classification of the composite health indicator on the risk of rabies transmission, the high level corresponds to 34% of the municipalities of the department, the middle level involves 17%, the low level, 28%. The municipalities without risk are La Macarena, Mapiripán, Vistahermosa, Villavicencio, Puerto Concordia, Granada and Puerto Rico, representing 21%. The high level of the composite health indicator on the risk of rabies virus transmission is found in municipalities of the Meta River sub-region, the Cordillera sub-region and the upper Ariari sub-region. These areas are characterized by high concentrations of animals, decreased coverage of rabies vaccination and circulating confirmation of the virus.

Predictability of seasonal precipitation across major crop growing areas in Colombia

Agriculture is one of the sectors that has greatly benefitted from the establishment of climate services. In Colombia, interannual climate variability can disrupt agricultural production, lower farmers' incomes and increase market prices. Increasing demand thus exists for agro-climatic services in the country. Fulfilling such demand requires robust and consistent approaches for seasonal climate forecasting. Here, we assess seasonal precipitation predictability and forecast skill at agriculturally-relevant timescales for five departments that represent key growing areas of major staple crops (rice, maize, and beans). Analyses use Canonical Correlation Analysis, with both observed SSTs and modeled (NCEP-CFSv2) SSTs, as well as with CFSv2 predicted precipitation fields (through a Model-Output-Statistics analysis). Some 74.4% of the forecast situations analyzed (5 departments ∗ 4 seasons ∗ 3 predictors ∗ 3 lead times) showed correlation-based goodness index (Kendall’s tau, τ-) values above 0.1, 38.8% above 0.2, and 18.8% above 0.3. Predictability was limited towards eastern Colombia, and during wet periods of the year in the Inter-Andean Valleys. Importantly, results were consistent between ERSST and CFSv2-driven forecasts, implying that both can offer valuable outlooks for Colombia. While our study is a first important step toward the establishment of a sustainable and successful climate service for agriculture in Colombia, further work is required to (1) improve seasonal forecast skill; (2) link seasonal forecasts to agricultural modelling applications; (3) design appropriate delivery means; and (4) establish stakeholder-driven processes that allow two-way communication between forecast issuing institutions (e.g. IDEAM–Colombian Meteorological Service) and famers’ organizations and farming communities.

Preliminary evaluation of associated viruses in production systems of cape gooseberry, purple passion fruit, and rose

Plant viruses may pose a threat to crops in Colombia. To evaluate the potential risk of yield losses due to plant virus infection, a literature analysis followed by a first field study was carried out focusing on purple passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims), cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.), and ornamental rose (Rosa sp.), which are important Colombian exports. Over the past three years, plant material was collected from 21 farms in Cundinamarca and Boyacá, Colombia, two regions that are in close proximity to El Dorado International Airport, the country’s largest air freight terminal. Plants were visually inspected and subsequently tested by bioassay and serological methods. Overall, in the samples investigated by the two diagnostic methods, plant viruses were detected. Detected viruses belong to the genus Poty-, Tobamo-, Nepo-, Ilar-, and Tospovirus. The extent of the distribution and occurrence of these viruses in each crop has to be determined in a representative field study. Such a monitoring program could be supported by a standardized farmer interview. The development of suitable plant virus diagnostic and managements tools is the focus of a cooperation project between German and Colombian universities, the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA), the Colombian Corporation of Agricultural Investigation (AGROSAVIA) and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT).

Internet de las cosas (IOT) en las ciencias agrícolas, propósito de una solución estándar para aplicaciones en Colombia

The wireless sensor networks (WSN) are a technology that has been underway for several years with high potential in the Internet of Things (IoT) applied to agriculture. One of the main challenges is the construction of these systems. This article main objective is to show to design and implementation of full technological system that will aim to strengthen precision agriculture in Colombia, through the construction of a wireless sensor node with communication modules, capable of measuring the variability of the environment and the soil and how connect this devices to cloud computing, a system proposed motivated on the creation of an open source model of precision agriculture, based on the extraction and gathering of environmental data, from remote sensors. Furthermore, the paper explains the overall applications propose in the world and the current technological developments in the agricultural sector in Colombia, emphases on researching on the architecture and key technology of Internet of Things (IoT). Finally, the paper demonstrates the development of a technology-based project that offers an efficient solution and contributes to the welfare of a specific target population, the Agro of Colombia.

Propuesta metodológica para la integración de un sistema de gestión documental basado en los referenciales NTC ISO 9001, NTCGP 1000 e ISO/IEC 17025

<p>El presente estudio se enfoca en identificar los aspectos críticos de la gestión documental del Laboratorio Nacional de Diagnostico Veterinario (LNDV), perteneciente al Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario (ICA), con respecto a los referenciales NTC ISO 9001, NTCGP 1000 e ISO/IEC 17025. Asimismo reconoce<br />los modelos de gestión que permitan su integración para fortalecer la gestión documental de la entidad y estructura una propuesta metodológica de integración durante el periodo 2014-2016. La importancia de esta investigación se enmarca en la generación de nuevo conocimiento sobre modelos de integración de sistemas de gestión a partir de un estudio cualitativo, en el<br />cual se llega a la conclusión de que los aspectos críticos encontrados ocasionan falencias en la ejecución de la gestión documental que pertenece a los diferentes procesos estructurales de los sistemas de gestión. Las causas y consecuencias de estos últimos están asociadas a componentes normativos como conocimiento, formación y toma de conciencia, normas y leyes, planificación,<br />responsabilidad y autoridad, gestión por procesos, recursos para el sostenimiento de los sistemas de gestión, procedimiento control de documentos<br />e implementación. Si uno de estos componentes presenta falencias en el enfoque basado en procesos, propuesto por los sistemas de gestión con los cuales la entidad está certificada, las causas y consecuencias de estas estarán reflejadas en cada una de las interacciones y jerarquías funcionales de la entidad. Como producto final se elaboró una propuesta metodológica, basada<br />en la estructura de alto nivel, como método para su construcción y se espera que permita la integración de los sistemas de gestión en estudio.</p>

Diseño y validación de un modelo para la evaluación de la calidad de la asistencia técnica agropecuaria en Colombia

El servicio de asistencia técnica agropecuaria en Colombia está reglamentado mediante leyes y decretos que definen los criterios para el seguimiento y verificación del desempeño de las entidades, sin embargo, se evidencian debilidades en la valoración de las variables que denotan calidad de la prestación del servicio. Debido a ello, fue diseñado el Modelo de Evaluación de la Calidad de la Asistencia Técnica Agropecuaria–MECATA, basado en la adaptación del modelo EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management) y la identificación de variables mediante procesos participativos. Los resultados corresponden a la selección de 39 variables relacionadas con la calidad del servicio que conforman el modelo MECATA; perfeccionamiento de tres instrumentos de evaluación y un proceso de validación en dos entidades prestadoras del servicio en Boyacá. Se observa una valoración positiva de usuarios y asistentes técnicos sobre el servicio, sin embargo, la innovación de procesos, integralidad del servicio, formación y actualización, participación en otras actividades e integración al mercado obtuvieron deficiente calificación. El modelo MECATA es una herramienta que integra las perspectivas de los actores, identifica necesidades en el contexto y permite la formulación de propuestas de mejoramiento en la prestación del servicio de asistencia técnica cuando es requerido.

Análisis de indicadores epidemiológicos: Brucelosis bovina en la Costa Atlántica y Antioquia - Colombia, 2005-2013

Objetivo. Describir la situación de la brucelosis bovina en la Costa Atlántica y Antioquia (CAA) mediante análisis de indicadores epidemiológicos durante el periodo 2005 – 2013. Materiales y métodos. Los datos fueron obtenidos de boletines epidemiológicos del Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario y del Censo Nacional Agropecuario 2014. Se comparó la media departamental anual de las variables estudiadas y se realizó un análisis temporal por representación gráfica. Resultados. 44% de los predios positivos se concentraron en la CAA; la tasa de positividad de predios en la CAA (27.9%) fue mayor y altamente significativa en relación a la tasa media del país (24.8%) siendo promovida por los departamentos menos productores. En relación a la población bovina, la CAA concentró 47,0% de los bovinos positivos en el país; no obstante, la tasa de positividad bovina (5.8%) fue estadísticamente igual a la media del país (5.3%), los departamentos con menor población bovina presentaron las mayores tasas. La mejor vigilancia para brucelosis bovina se observó entre 2005 y 2009, contrariamente, durante 2010, 2011 y 2013 hubo reducción considerable en el número de diagnósticos, tanto en predios como en bovinos. En los departamentos menos productores la distribución temporal de los indicadores epidemiológicos favoreció más la presencia de la enfermedad. Conclusiones. El Programa Nacional de Prevención, Control y Erradicación de la Brucelosis Bovina en la CAA presentó resultados promisorios, sin embargo, la falta de continuidad en la vigilancia diagnóstica en algunos años y principalmente en los departamentos menos productores afectó negativamente su avance.

Effect of Endophyte Association with Brachiaria Species on Shoot and Root Morpho-physiological Responses under Drought Stress

A greenhouse experiment was conducted at the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture in Colombia to evaluate effects of the fungal endophyte, Acremonium implicatum, on growth and physiological responses of five Brachiaria cultivars. Plants were grown under well-watered (WW) and drought-stressed (DS) conditions, with (E+) and without (E-) endophyte; and their morpho-physiological responses were determined. Significant two-way and three-way interactions produced variable effects on leaf area, number of tillers, shoot elongation, shoot biomass, total root diameter, diameter of cortex, area of stele and diameter of xylem vessel. Main effect of endophyte significantly increased leaf stomatal conductance and reduced diameter of xylem. Smaller leaf area was found in endophyte-infected than control plants of three cultivars, both under WW and DS conditions, which indicates a cost of endophyte infection to the host cultivars. Large root diameter and area of stele under WW conditions, as well as small diameter of xylem vessels in some cultivars suggests that endophyte may improve efficiency for water uptake and use under different water regimes. Less Root Cortical Aerenchyma (RCA) was observed in endophyte-infected plants of Tully and Cayman than the control, which may influence plant capacity for resource acquisition in Brachiaria. Genotype-specific variation among hosts generally segregated the cultivars in terms of their shoot and root responses, based on presence (E+) or absence (E-) of endophyte. However, future studies should examine how association of A. implicatum with Brachiaria grass affects capacity for water uptake and carbon accumulation, and the role of RCA in these processes.

Variación en la concentración de sólidos solubles durante el día, en tres pasturas en época seca en el valle medio del río Sinú

El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la concentración de sólidos solubles a diferentes horas del día en tres pasturas, establecidas en el Centro de Investigación Turipaná de Corpoica, localizado en Cereté, Colombia. Durante enero-febrero de 2011, se evaluó la concentración de sólidos solubles en Panicum maximum, Cynodon nlemfuensis y Brachiaria híbrido cv. Mulato II, en diferentes horas de muestreo 7:00 y 10:00 a. m., 1:00 y 4:00 p. m. El diseño estadístico consistió en bloques completamente al azar con arreglo trifactorial 3*3*4 (pastura*carga animal*tiempo) y tres repeticiones correspondientes a cada día de evaluación. Se realizó análisis de varianza y, cuando existieron diferencias en las medias, fueron separadas con la prueba de Tukey (p<0,05). Se detectaron diferencias (p<0,01) en la concentración de sólidos solubles en las diferentes pasturas, en todos los períodos del día evaluados, siendo el Mulato II quien presentó los mayores valores con 9,19 %, seguido por Cynodon nlemfuensis y Panicum maximum con 8,27 % y 7,07 %, respectivamente. La concentración de sólidos solubles varió durante el día y entre pasturas, siendo las 10:00 a. m. y 1:00 p. m. las horas donde se presentaron las mayores concentraciones de sólidos solubles en todas las pasturas, lo que se puede convertir en herramienta de manejo para la rotación de potreros.

Análisis prospectivo de los bioinsumos agrícolas en Colombia: una consulta a expertos

<p><strong>Título en ingles: Prospective analysis of agricultural bioinoculants in Colombia: an expert consultation</strong></p><p>La productividad y sostenibilidad de la agricultura en Colombia pueden ser influidas positivamente a través del aprovechamiento de la biodiversidad para la producción de bioinsumos. Fueron analizados a mediano y largo plazo, los posibles escenarios futuros generados por las regulaciones que intervienen en el avance tecnológico de los bioinsumos, a través de la aplicación de una encuesta Delphi, con la participación de 23 expertos, teniendo en cuenta las tres dimensiones del desarrollo sostenible. Sobre la base de este estudio, se encontró que el 65% de los expertos consideran que el impacto de la innovación o el desarrollo tecnológico del uso de bioinsumos en la producción agrícola, tiene un alto impacto económico con un nivel de concordancia significativo (≥0.05). Adicionalmente, el 65% seleccionó como el mejor escenario, en el cual se den condiciones que promuevan mayor desarrollo, acceso y aplicación de los bioinsumos, de tal forma que se incremente el ritmo de incorporación de la tecnología por parte de los productores. En conclusión, más allá del nivel de desarrollo tecnológico, es necesario revisar los procesos legislativos para la comercialización de los bioinsumos, fue evidente que el éxito futuro de la industria de la producción de productos biológicos dependerá de la gestión de empresas innovadoras, la eficiente comercialización de los mismos, la educación y transferencia a los productores y el progreso de la investigación.</p>

Coronavirus en porcinos: importancia y presentación del virus de la diarrea epidémica porcina (PEDV) en Colombia

El artículo busca dar a conocer aspectos generales de los principales coronavirus que afectan los porcinos, su presentación en Colombia y aspectos particulares del virus de diarrea epidémica porcina (PEDV), emergente en diferentes países y que está generando gran impacto en la salud y la economía de la industria porcina. Los coronavirus que afectan la especie porcina son principalmente el virus de gastroenteritis transmisible porcina (TGEV), el coronavirus respiratorio porcino (PRCV), el virus de la encefalomielitis hemaglutinante porcina (PHEV), el PEDV y el deltacoronavirus porcino (PDCoV). Tiempo atrás en Colombia se han tenido registros de TEGV y PRCV asociados a la importación de animales provenientes de Estados Unidos, que se controlaron en las granjas infectadas y en las unidades de cuarentena. Para el caso de PEDV, este se detectó por primera vez en Colombia a mediados de marzo de 2014, por lo cual el Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario expidió la alerta sanitaria en Neiva (Huila), Fusagasugá, Silvania (Cundinamarca) y Puerto López (Meta), por la presentación inusual de un cuadro epidémico de vómito y diarrea en animales jóvenes y adultos, aborto en cerdas gestantes, con altas tasas de mortalidad hasta de 100 % en animales de primera semana de edad. En el presente la enfermedad se ha registrado en otros municipios del país lo mismo que en diferentes países con un cuadro clínico similar y mortalidad en cerdos, con altas pérdidas económicas para el sector porcícola.

Armed conflict, land grabs and primitive accumulation in Colombia: micro processes, macro trends and the puzzles in between

Armed conflict is widely believed to disrupt agricultural production and ‘reverse’ development, but it may also involve the violent transformation of rural economies from subsistence to commercial agriculture. The case of Las Pavas, an estate in northern Colombia, provides further evidence that armed conflict created opportunities for violent land grabs and the expansion of commercial agriculture in Colombia. However, aggregate data suggest that primitive accumulation may be only part of the story behind the massive scale of forced displacement and dispossession. A research strategy that accounts for the diversity of subnational contexts, processes and outcomes is needed.

Burkholderia glumae en el cultivo de arroz en Costa Rica.

El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la presencia de Burkholderia glumae en arroz en Costa Rica. La bacteria Burkholderia glumae está asociada al cultivo del arroz en el que provoca la enfermedad llamada añublo bacterial. Bajo condiciones ambientales favorables, la densidad bacteriana aumenta, lo que provoca que, bajo un sistema de regulación denominado quorum sensing, se expresen sus mecanismos de virulencia mediante la activación de genes responsables para la síntesis de la toxoflavina, que bloquea el flujo de nutrientes, para la biogénesis de flagelos y la respuesta quimiotáctica, y la producción de la enzima catalasa. Las plantas desarrollan la sintomatología que finalmente conlleva a un vaneamiento del grano provocando pérdidas económicas importantes. Se investigó la situación referente a la contaminación del grano de arroz causado por esta bacteria en Costa Rica durante los años 2009 y 2010, mediante un convenio entre la Corporación Nacional Arrocera y el Laboratorio de Fitopatología del Centro de Investigación en Protección de Cultivos de la Universidad de Costa Rica. Se usó la metodología de PCR de punto final recomendada por investigadores del Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical en Colombia y se reforzó la identificación, por medio de técnicas de microbiología convencional. Se obtuvieron resultados que indican la presencia de la bacteria en Costa Rica, la primera información sobre la prevalencia de un fitopatógeno bacteriano de gran importancia para el sector arrocero.

Reconciling approaches to climate change adaptation for Colombian agriculture

The projected impact of climate change on agro-ecological systems is considered widespread and significant, particularly across the global tropics. As in many other countries, adaptation to climate change is likely to be an important challenge for Colombian agricultural systems. In a recent study, a national-level assessment of the likely future impacts of climate change on agriculture was performed (Ramirez-Villegas et al. Clim Chang 115:611–628, 2012, RV2012). The study diagnosed key challenges directly affecting major crops and regions within the Colombian agricultural system and suggested a number of actions thought to facilitate adaptation, while refraining from proposing specific strategies at local scales. Further insights on the study were published by Feola (2013) (F2013), who stressed the need for transformative adaptation processes to reduce vulnerability particularly of resource-limited farmers, and the benefits of a predominantly stakeholder-led approach to adaptation. We clarify that the recommendations outlined in RV2012 were not intended as a recipe for multi-scale adaptation, but rather a set of actions that are required to diagnose and develop adaptation actions particularly at governmental levels in coordination with national and international adaptation initiatives. Such adaptation actions ought to be, ideally, a product of inclusive sub-sectorial assessments, which can take different forms. We argue that Colombian agriculture as a whole would benefit from a better outlining of adaptation needs across temporal scales in sub-sectorial assessments that take into account both RV2012 and F2013 orientations to adaptation. We conclude with two case studies of research on climate change impacts and adaptation developed in Colombia that serve as examples of realistic, productive sectorial and sub-national assessments.

Lowering environmental costs of oil‐palm expansion in Colombia

AbstractColombia is the fifth largest producer of palm oil in the world. The country's government and oil‐palm farmers association target a sixfold increase of crude palm‐oil production by 2020. We model the impacts of expanding oil‐palm agriculture in Colombia through a spatially explicit scenario analysis. We demonstrate that the impacts of oil‐palm expansion (e.g., deforestation, conversion of natural savannahs) would be minimized by establishing new plantations on pasture lands, given the low environmental value and economic utility, and the high agricultural potential of this land use. Impacts of oil‐palm expansion on beef and dairy production could be compensated by improving productivity of pasture lands elsewhere. However, the profitability of oil‐palm production in these areas might suffer over the long term due to high land purchase costs.

A way forward on adaptation to climate change in Colombian agriculture: perspectives towards 2050

Policy measures regarding adaptation to climate change include efforts to adjust socio-economic and ecologic systems. Colombia has undertaken various measures in terms of climate change mitigation and adaptation since becoming a party of the Kyoto protocol in 2001 and a party of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1995. The first national communication to the UNFCCC stated how Colombian agriculture will be severely impacted under different emission scenarios and time frames. The analyses in this document further support that climate change will severely threaten the socioeconomics of Colombian agriculture. We first query national data sources to characterize the agricultural sector. We then use 17 Global Circulation Model (GCM) outputs to quantify how Colombian agricultural production may be affected by climate change, and show the expected changes to years 2040–2069 (“2050”) under the A2 scenario of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES-A2) and the overall trends in both precipitation and temperature to 2100. We then evaluate expected changes within different regions and measure the proportion of area affected within each crop’s distributional range. By 2050, climatic change in Colombia will likely impact 3.5 million people, 14 % of national GDP corresponding to agriculture, employment of 21 % of the population, agro-industries, supply chains, and food and nutritional security. If no adaptation measures are taken, 80 % of crops would be impacted in more than 60 % of their current areas of cultivation, with particularly severe impacts in high value perennial and exportable crops. Impacts also include soil degradation and organic matter losses in the Andes hillsides; likely flooding in the Caribbean and Pacific coasts; niche losses for coffee, fruit, cocoa, and bananas; changes in prevalence of pests and diseases; and increases in the vulnerabilities of non-technically developed smallholders. There is, however, still time to change the current levels of vulnerability if a multidisciplinary focus (i.e., agronomic, economic, and social) in vulnerable sectors is undertaken. Each sub-sector and the Government need to invest in: (1) data collection, (2) detailed, regionally-based impact assessments, (3) research and development, and (4) extension and technology transfer. Support to vulnerable smallholders should be given by the state in the form of agricultural insurance systems contextualized under the phenomenon of climate change. A national coordination scheme led by (but not restricted to) the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MADR) with the contributions of national and international institutions is needed to address agricultural adaptation.

The Post-war International Food Order: The Case of Agriculture in Colombia

Since the post-war period, Colombian agriculture has been reshaped mainly by international measures. The post-war international food order (called food regime) over time has exacerbated Colombian rural problems linked to land issues. Emphasizing in five groups of crops (Cereals, Fruits, Pulses, Roots and Tubers, and Vegetables) this article found how Colombia has turned from being a self-sufficient producer into a net importer. Consequently, the food regime has reshaped agricultural structures where policies have favored certain groups rather than solving land issues. Bio-fuel crop policies are following the same direction, jeopardizing food sovereignty and deepening rural Colombian problems.

Suitability of pesticide risk indicators for Less Developed Countries: A comparison

Pesticide risk indicators provide simple support in the assessment of environmental and health risks from pesticide use, and can therefore inform policies to foster a sustainable interaction of agriculture with the environment. For their relative simplicity, indicators may be particularly useful under conditions of limited data availability and resources, such as in Less Developed Countries (LDCs). However, indicator complexity can vary significantly, in particular between those that rely on an exposure–toxicity ratio (ETR) and those that do not. In addition, pesticide risk indicators are usually developed for Western contexts, which might cause incorrect estimation in LDCs. This study investigated the appropriateness of seven pesticide risk indicators for use in LDCs, with reference to smallholding agriculture in Colombia. Seven farm-level indicators, among which 3 relied on an ETR (POCER, EPRIP, PIRI) and 4 on a non-ETR approach (EIQ, PestScreen, OHRI, Dosemeci et al., 2002), were calculated and then compared by means of the Spearman rank correlation test. Indicators were also compared with respect to key indicator characteristics, i.e. user friendliness and ability to represent the system under study. The comparison of the indicators in terms of the total environmental risk suggests that the indicators not relying on an ETR approach cannot be used as a reliable proxy for more complex, i.e. ETR, indicators. ETR indicators, when user-friendly, show a comparative advantage over non-ETR in best combining the need for a relatively simple tool to be used in contexts of limited data availability and resources, and for a reliable estimation of environmental risk. Non-ETR indicators remain useful and accessible tools to discriminate between different pesticides prior to application. Concerning the human health risk, simple algorithms seem more appropriate for assessing human health risk in LDCs. However, further research on health risk indicators and their validation under LDC conditions is needed.