Evaluación de los impactos socioambientales asociados a la producción de panela en Santander (Colombia)

Panela (jaggery or non-centrifuged sugar) is a natural food product characterized by its high nutritional value and sweetening power. In the department of Santander, Colombia, the transfor-mation of sugarcane juice into jaggery is carried out mainly in handcrafted sugar mills, which generate a permanent source of employment for rural families. However, according to the results obtained in this study, it should be mentioned that under the current conditions of artisanal production, this agricultural activity involves great physical effort and considerable risk to the workers` health. In addition, it causes significant negative environmental impacts during the production process, standing out changes in the atmospheric composition, microclimatic changes, and pollution of water resources. In order to contribute to the sustainability of the jaggery- production sector in the department of Santander, a qualitative diagnosis of biotic, abiotic and anthropological impacts generated by the production of artisanal jaggery are presented. The current situation of the national jaggery industry and the production process, from cutting sugarcane to the packaging of the final product are described. Identified impacts are characterized and some recommendations to achieve environmentally sustainable production process are provided.