Oscar Martínez’s journey in the food industry began in 2004 with a laboratory assistant internship at a dairy company. In a twist of fate that would define his career, the production manager assigned him to the company's pest control program, a critical responsibility that had previously been managed by someone with no technical knowledge.
Oscar took up the challenge and significantly improved the pest management program, implementing technical monitoring, validating reports, and formalizing the entire system. He managed all that while finalizing his food engineering studies.
Customer empowerment
Oscar's passion lies in empowering customers to think proactively. A certified internal auditor across six major international standards, including ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, and 22000, he regularly provides expert consulting to customers navigating high-stakes audits.
He notes that the challenge is intensified because auditors themselves are frequently unfamiliar with specific Colombian regulations, such as Decree 1843 from 1991, erroneously assuming the external provider bears 100% of the responsibility.
Year-round pest pressure in a tropical climate
Operating in Colombia presents unique biological challenges. The tropical climate means flies, German cockroaches, and rodents are a year-round threat, alongside seasonal surges of mosquitoes during the rainy season and stored grain pests in outdated mill infrastructures.
Furthermore, because Colombia is home to approximately 10% of the world’s snake species, many of which are venomous, Oscar has helped champion specialized relocation and repellent services at Palmera Junior, ensuring technicians are trained to handle these encounters safely.
“We are very active in educating the public about the importance of protecting biodiversity. Snakes play an important role in maintaining the balance of our ecosystems, yet most people just want to find the fastest way to get rid of them.
We educate customers and the public about the importance of relocating reptiles instead of eliminating them. However, only trained technicians have the knowledge and the skills to do so safely,” Oscar says.
Sharing knowledge with the industry
To foster this digital transition and share his knowledge, Oscar is actively involved in industry education. In addition to publishing articles on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) on the Palmera Junior blog, his branch is organizing a major, customer-focused educational event scheduled for the first quarter of 2027.
Apart from his deep commitment to technical excellence and auditing, Oscar remains highly attuned to global industry trends, actively monitoring local market insights to ensure Colombian food manufacturers stay ahead of climate shifts and changing regulatory landscapes.