The bioeconomy and biotechnology sectors present transformative opportunities for sustainable development by harnessing biological resources and promoting innovation. This study investigates the potential for bilateral collaboration between Colombia and China, highlighting their complementary strengths: Colombia’s remarkable biodiversity and China’s advanced technological capabilities and policy frameworks. This article aimed to analyze the current landscape of bioeconomy and biotechnology in both countries, identify key areas for cooperation, evaluate regulatory frameworks, and propose strategies to strengthen bilateral efforts. This paper combines a qualitative approach with an extensive literature review, secondary data analysis, and case studies. The findings indicate that Colombia’s rich biodiversity offers significant opportunities in bioprospecting, biofuels, and agricultural biotechnology. Meanwhile, China’s expertise in bioeconomic innovation can facilitate technological advancements and capacity building. However, these opportunities remain despite challenges such as trade imbalances, regulatory gaps, and cultural differences. Collaborative initiatives focused on bioplastics, bioenergy, and circular economy principles have the potential to diversify Colombia’s exports and enhance its global competitiveness. This study emphasizes that integrating Colombia’s natural resources with China’s technological advancements has the potential to drive innovation, improve participation in global value chains, and foster sustainability. Effective governance, inclusive policies, and strategic investments are crucial to fully realizing this partnership’s transformative potential in tackling global challenges like climate change and food security.

Approximately 93% of the world’s children under 15 are exposed to ambient PM2,5 levels exceeding the World Health Organization’s guidelines. PM2,5 and other air pollutants affect children’s mental and motor development, as well as their lung function, even at low concentrations. In low- and middle-income countries, the effects are potentially stronger because of the weaker land-use policies in place, which increases households’ proximity to industrial sources. Such is the case of areas with mixed land use in western Bogota, Colombia. In this work, the exposure of children to PM2,5 at a school in the Puente Aranda district was estimated. PM2,5 concentrations were measured using low-volume area samplers during school hours in February 2020. Information on the children’s daily activity was recorded in order to estimate the physical effort applied during their normal school activities, and the minors’ respiratory symptomatologies were consulted with their parents. The inhaled dose was estimated using inhalation rates. The results showed that children aged three to five inhale the highest doses and report higher rates of respiratory symptoms. Indoor PM2,5 concentrations were consistently higher, agreeing with previous reports, probably because of dust resuspension and poor classroom ventilation. Air pollution mitigation measures must be put into effect in order to protect this highly vulnerable population. These measures will also positively affect the safe return of students to school activities after the pandemic lockdown.

The expansion of the industrial zone along the Medellín Highway on the northwestern outskirts of Bogotá has raised concerns among nearby residents regarding the potential health impacts of pollutant emissions. This study evaluates the behaviour of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter below 2.5 micrometres (PM2.5) in indoor environments of the Santa Cecilia neighbourhood, relative to outdoor atmospheric concentrations, using custom-designed low-cost sensors. In situ PM2.5 concentrations were compared with meteorological data and PM2.5 reports from the Bogotá Air Quality Monitoring Network (RMCAB). Data processing and wind analysis were conducted using Python and WRPLOT software. The results indicate that indoor PM2.5 concentrations are minimally influenced by outdoor pollutants (approximately 3%), with peaks of internal concentrations (up to 1661 µg/m³) attributed primarily to indoor activities and personal behaviours. Recommendations include the strategic use of natural ventilation to prevent excessive indoor PM2.5 accumulation during activities such as cooking and cleaning.

Los compuestos orgánicos volátiles son unos de los compuestos químicos de mayor importancia en la química atmosférica en años recientes dada su participación en la formación de aerosol secundario y ozono en la atmósfera. Son compuestos liberados mediante procesos naturales (biogénicos) o por actividades antropogénicas. Este trabajo buscó estimar de forma teórica las emisiones biogénicas de los compuestos orgánicos volátiles isopreno y monoterpenos tomando como caso de estudio la ciudad de Bogotá para el año 2019, teniendo como fuente de emisión la especie Eucalyptus globulus y evaluando la sensibilidad a variables meteorológicas como temperatura, humedad y radiación solar. Los valores de emisión obtenidos fueron de 0,27 t al año observando una relación directamente proporcional entre la radiación fotosintéticamente activa (PAR) y las emisiones de isopreno, así mismo, se encontró que la emisión de monoterpenos se encuentra mas relacionada con la temperatura atmosférica. Este trabajo permitió tener un aporte en la cuantificación teórica de las emisiones de compuestos orgánicos biogénicos emitidas por esta especie, el cual puede ser considerado como línea base para el levantamiento de un inventario general de emisiones biogénicas de este tipo que se realicen en el país. Volatile organic compounds are one of the most important chemical compounds in atmospheric chemistry in recent years due to their participation in the formation of secondary aerosols and ozone in the atmosphere. They are compounds released by natural (biogenic) processes or by anthropogenic activities. This work sought to theoretically estimate the biogenic emissions of volatile organic compounds Isoprene and monoterpenes, taking as a case study the city of Bogotá for the year 2019, taking the Eucalyptus globulus species as the source of emission, under the consideration of meteorological variables such as temperature, humidity, and solar radiation. The estimated emission values obtained were 0,27 t per year observing a directly proportional relationship between photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and isoprene emissions, likewise, it was found that the emission of monoterpenes is more closely related to atmospheric temperature. This work made it possible to have a contribution in the theoretical quantification of the emissions of biogenic organic compounds emitted by the species, which can be considered as a baseline for the drawing up of a general inventory of emissions of this type that are carried out in the country.

Agricultural soils are increasingly recognised as major sinks of microplastics (MPs), yet evidence from Latin America—and particularly from Colombian Andean cropping systems—remains scarce, and most regional laboratories must adapt international protocols to limited analytical infrastructure. This short communication reports detection of MPs in agricultural soils of Cachipay (Cundinamarca, Colombia), a temperate-humid Andean municipality, and evaluates a feasible, low-resource extraction and identification workflow. Composite topsoil from a common-bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) plot, divided into two field sectors (East and West), was processed by dry sieving, density separation, and vacuum filtration, and the recovered particles were examined by attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Two density media were compared under identical conditions: saturated sodium chloride (NaCl, ~1.2 g cm⁻³) and sodium iodide (NaI, ~2.1 g cm⁻³), with distilled water as a procedural blank. MP-compatible particles were detected in both sectors. NaI recovered particles in all replicates of both sectors, whereas NaCl yielded a positive signal only in the East sector; distilled-water blanks remained negative, supporting the specificity of the procedure. Diagnostic absorption bands were consistent with polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate (predominantly identified within the 600–800 cm⁻¹ and 1700–1800 cm⁻¹ wavenumber ranges) with additional amine-associated signals near 3400 cm⁻¹ tentatively attributed to a polyethyleneimine-type material. Because the workflow was qualitative, the study confirms presence or absence only and does not quantify particle abundance, size, or mass. These results provide baseline evidence of MP occurrence in an under-studied Andean agroecosystem and demonstrate that a denser separation medium (NaI) markedly improves recovery and the reliability of ATR-FTIR assignment in fine-textured, organic-rich soils, offering a practical template for resource-limited monitoring programmes.