Who established the columbian exchange?

The Columbian Exchange was not officially "established" by a single person, but it began with Christopher Columbus’s voyages to the Americas starting in 1492. His expeditions, sponsored by Spain, connected the Old World and New World for the first time in recorded history. This contact initiated the widespread transfer of plants, animals, people, cultures, and diseases. While Columbus did not intentionally create the exchange, his journeys triggered centuries of interaction between continents. Over time, European explorers, traders, and colonizers expanded this exchange, shaping global history. Thus, Columbus is credited with setting the stage for the Columbian Exchange, even if unknowingly.