Sebastián Cantor

Livestock production in evolution: an operational view from Almaviva Colombia

🎙️ In this episode of Keru Podcast, we spoke with Sebastián Cantor, a leading figure in industrial operations at Almaviva Colombia, about the technical, human and logistical challenges of running a balanced animal feed plant in a country where agribusiness moves forward amid opportunities and structural challenges.

Beyond the formula: technical challenges in balanced feed production

Sebastián offers an honest look at the operational complexity facing the balanced feed industry for livestock production in Colombia. Although technological advances have made it possible to grow capacity —from 10 to more than 50 tons per hour—, standardization remains a challenge. Variables such as machinery wear, raw material quality or operators' decisions can alter the durability and efficiency of products, especially in an environment where the end consumer demands high quality standards.

Traceability, proper cooking of soybeans, mycotoxin control and resistance to transport under adverse conditions are part of everyday work. And while the data is available, one of the main challenges is reading and interpreting it in real time, in order to make effective decisions.

Logistics: the invisible bottleneck – balanced feed agribusiness

Cantor describes logistics as a “spear to defend the business”. The ability to deliver product in optimal condition —on time, in the right form and without deterioration— can make the difference between retaining a customer or losing them to the competition. The distribution system, the availability of routes and having “plan Bs” are today as relevant as the nutritional quality of the feed.

Cultural change and talent management

Operational change is not limited to technology or processes. Sebastián describes how resistance to change —especially from staff with decades of seniority— can hinder growth. But he also shares cases where, once that barrier was overcome, the team recognized and celebrated the transformation. For him, the manager's role is “bilingual”: speaking the language of the board and that of the operator, and bringing everyone into the vision of change.

His turning point: trust. A plant can operate with hundreds of variables, but if trust fails between those who lead and those who execute, the risk multiplies.

Where is the industry heading? – agricultural and livestock production in Colombia

Sebastián's big question is whether the future of the industry will lie in the centralization of high-capacity plants, or in cooperative models of small and medium-sized producers with regional plants. That tension between scale and decentralization will set the course of the sector.