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colombiapanela is a valuable resource For rural Families in colombia, but government policies designed to Favor big producers and industrial sugar reFineries are threatening its survivalpanela’s bitterFutuRedennis beJaRanoThe history of panela in Colombia dates back to when sugar cane was first cultivated in the country. The crop was introduced here in the 16th cen- tury, and has since become profoundly rooted in Colombian culture and tra- ditions. Panela is a natural sweetener extracted from sugar cane, and has always been mostly produced artisan- ally. The cane juice is first extracted using small engine-driven mills, before being subjected to different manual processes of cleaning and clarification using natural thickeners made from lo- cal plants. Once it has evaporated to the right point, the juice is poured into molds for cooling. The blocks of panela are then ready to sell and consume.a reSource for family farmerSAccording to FAO figures, Colombia is the top country for panela consump- tion in the world, and the second- largest producer. All of the production is for the domestic market, and meets the national demand. Panela produc- tion is one of the country’s most impor- tant economic activities: with 249,384 hectares planted with sugar cane it creates 25 million work days a year and involves 12% of the rural population.Panela is an essential product in the rural economy, and the leading sweet- ener in the Colombian diet, of primary importance to local and regional trade. It represents a vital source of income for farming families.Currently, however, the market is threat- ened by the coming into force of Reso- lution 779 from 2006, regulating the hy- giene requirements for the production and sale of panela. This is causing great difficulties for Colombian family farmers. In order to comply with the regulations, a farming family must invest around 4,000 dollars in technological alterations and training, a figure that is generally well above their spending capacity. The gov- ernment has not taken into account this fact, and has not developed concrete support programs for the small-scale producers who represent the rural re- ality; instead, it is encouraging joining structures that are not very representa- tive. This favors large panela producers and divides the production sector.The new production practices also involve the use of certified seeds and technological packages to increase productivity. This represents a risk to the survival of traditional sugar cane varieties and to organic production, very common in this specific sector.37