Asebiol

Asebiol has been at the forefront of Colombia's food safety for over four decades, leading with unwavering dedication and innovation. Its commitment showcases visionary leadership, prioritizing compassion and societal well-being, as well as setting the gold standard for corporate responsibility.

Founded by Maria Isabel Muñoz is the first enterprise to offer safety and quality control services in the country’s food sector. It provides consulting and auditing services in quality control in food, environment, and socio-economic programs. It operates specialized laboratories to conduct a vast array of tests, ensuring swift delivery of results. Over the years, its unique ethos has combined technical excellence with an unwavering dedication to the well-being of communities, the environment, and the country.

Today, Valentina Londoño, Maria’s daughter and the current CEO, continues to honor her mother's visions, adeptly navigating Asebiol through contemporary challenges while remaining true to its core values.

“Asebiol doesn't just provide services; it provides care. We have created a legacy of compassion, sustainability, and meaningful impact that reflects through every aspect of our business,” says Valentina.

Harmonizing Scientific Acumen, Consumer-Centricity, and Sustainability

Unprecedented situations consistently present formidable challenges in many industries, with the COVID-19 pandemic particularly impacting the food sector. Its far-reaching effect has disrupted Colombia’s food supply chain, casting a shadow on raw material availability and leaving enterprises to identify and switch to safer and more reliable sources, all while upholding food quality standards. This instability has also led to a surge in food fraud and quality issues across the supply chain.

Asebiol has alleviated these problems by helping businesses improve quality control and find raw material suppliers while keeping consumer safety on the horizon.

The company offers a broad spectrum of services and hosts five state-of-the-art laboratories, focusing on microbiology, chemistry, biosafety, nutrient analysis, allergens, contaminants, and water parasite analysis. Experts at Asebiol’s microbiology laboratory analyze food samples to detect yeast, bacteria, mold, and other pathogens that adversely impact food quality and shelf life. A bioscreen laboratory checks for the presence of harmful viruses and parasites in food, such as Campylobacter, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and E. coli. To detect parasites in all types of water, the company has a dedicated parasitology laboratory conducting tests for giardia and cryptosporidium.

It also employs sophisticated assessments to discern the presence of other contaminants in the tested food and study the integrity of product composition. To examine the chemical characteristics, bromatological testing and analysis of the nutritional value of food and its impact on health are conducted. In its physiochemistry lab, Asebiol also examines the physical and chemical properties and interactions between food articles and their packaging material.

Asebiol has long advocated protecting Colombia's flora, fauna, and natural resources by helping businesses transition to environmentally sustainable operating models. It carries out diagnoses, studies, and environmental management plans to analyze the impact of client products on local biodiversity and ecology. It also diagnoses and protects water resources, conducts environmental impact studies, designs and develops sustainable projects, and fosters community education.

Using cutting-edge technology and processes, Asebiol generates test results within 48 hours. Drawing insights from these findings, its professionals advise clients on improving product quality. The laboratories operate round-the-clock, allowing customers to track their samples anytime on a user-friendly online platform, Azul. This system empowers businesses with transparency and convenience throughout the testing process.

Practicing a precision-driven approach, Asebiol allocates 40 to 45 percent of its budget to the technological advancement of its laboratories. It partners with global firms to acquire the latest tools, equipment, and software solutions. The firm also collaborates with 3M (MMM: NYSE) in microbiology and IDEXX for parasitology. These acquisitions ensure that Asebiol efficiently analyzes test samples within a shorter period.

Fostering Social Change through Conscience-Driven Entrepreneurship

Asebiol champions a vision grounded in food safety, social welfare, and environmental stewardship. This commitment is ethical and provides an economic foundation, aiding businesses in reducing financial strain and boosting their confidence for international expansion.

At the heart of Asebiol’s work is its comprehensive and customized in-house advisory and consultancy. The company understands a project's scope and optimizes its dimensions to identify market opportunities. It arms clients with tools to enhance their initiatives. Asebiol’s experts go into the field to inspect territories and factories and collect data. Globally, it offers comprehensive food safety services that promote employee well-being and assist clients in achieving the WELL certification by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). The team meticulously audits their urban and rural food programs, ensuring they meet various standards such as HACCP, OSHA, BPM, and ISO.

Collaboration with NGOs has enabled it to bridge socio-economic divides in Colombia. It has partnered with national food banks to fight hunger and is a proud member of the Association of Food Banks of Colombia. Focusing on quality, the firm works with financial institutions to ensure product integrity in food that is delivered to beneficiary populations. In regard to safety, food, water supplies, surfaces, hand swabs, and local environments are analyzed. On a mission to educate, Asebiol conducts training and conferences addressing the quality, safety, and environmental implications of food and water sources.

"Our mission is intrinsically humanistic. We strive for the betterment of our country, communities, team, and clients. By making Colombia better, we inherently advance our business," says Valentina.

Asebiol actively liaises with government bodies to update Colombia’s consumer safety regulations. It highlighted the absence of water legislation for Legionella, educating its clientele and helping them analyze water samples for bacteria. Similarly, it dedicates its attention to Campylobacter in chicken. Asebiol's attentiveness extends to addressing challenges like the shortage of cereals and devising innovative solutions, such as protein-rich flour derived from crickets.

Asebiol teamed up with the Colombian Congress to develop water solutions and improve the accessibility of potable water in La Guajira—a region distinguished by its indigenous communities. This initiative raises awareness about water conservation and promotes sustainable practices. By taking a community-first approach and acknowledging their importance, the local population’s needs, hardships, and expectations from authorities are heard while preserving biodiversity.

Apart from its environmental commitments, Asebiol undertakes many humanitarian projects. Notably, it has worked with the Colombian Agency for Reintegration and the Ministry of National Defense since 2016, sculpting peace and reconciliation scenarios. This peace laboratory initiative stands out, with Asebiol hiring numerous ex-combatants, promoting reconciliation and progress. In its partnership with other private firms, the company backs responsibility programs that create employment opportunities for soldiers, all underscored by free education, training, and workshops. These endeavors send a clear message—unity and progress can flourish in a post-conflict nation.

Practicing Compassion and Driving Change

Asebiol operates under a model that Valentina describes as ‘caring capitalism,’ highlighting the company's dedication to the well-being of Colombia and its people.

“We want to grow with our clients, employees, and country,” says Maria.

Led predominantly by women, Asebiol stands as an exemplar of female leadership. Coupled with its exceptional customer relationship management, this gives the firm an empathetic and diligent approach to work. Maria established Asebiol to address Colombia’s food safety needs, guided by the principles of protecting the environment and vulnerable populations. Having passed on the baton to her daughter, she remains a strong and guiding influence, providing insights that have been instrumental in molding Valentina's leadership approach.

Central to Asebiol's operational principles is its emphasis on forming close relationships with clients and transcending traditional business associations. These meaningful connections complement its core values of kindness and compassion, fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment. Asebiol aims to carry its business model beyond Colombia’s borders, particularly through Latin America and the Caribbean. This expansion is not just business development; it's the propagation of a philosophy.

At Asebiol’s foundation, the central theme of caring prevails, reflected in its genuine dedication to everyone’s safety. It emphasizes social responsibility, environmental stewardship, and women empowerment. Through innovative technological practices, commitment to quality control, and community engagement, the firm has created healthier, safer, and more sustainable food supply chains, contributing to positive societal and environmental changes. Asebiol has repeatedly demonstrated its dedication to the country, its citizens and the environment, and exemplified a humanitarian business approach—the result of its purpose-driven actions.

Asebiol and its advocacy for technology-based socio-economic development set the stage for developing countries to meet emerging challenges head-on. The firm is an archetype of businesses that influence millions of lives with their humanitarian efforts.