11 May 2026
Gran Tierra Energy and FEDECACAO Deliver Diplomas to ‘Sowing the Future’ Participants in Putumayo
- Gran Tierra Energy and FEDECACAO marked the successful completion of the Sembrando Futuro (Sowing the Future) program in Puerto Asís, awarding diplomas to 30 students trained in cacao processing and the development of chocolate and cacao-based products.
- Since May 2025, the program has strengthened the technical capacities of 30 student attendees and their communities by providing on-site training in a one- hectare cacao crop facility. The total impact includes over 600 people across 36 rural communities in the region.
- This initiative is part of Gran Tierra Energy’s long-term cacao strategy in Putumayo, which since 2016 has strengthened the sector by contributing to increased organic production, improved farmer incomes, and has positioned Putumayo as a recognized source of sustainably produced, high-quality cacao, while laying the groundwork for producers to access and compete in international markets.
Puerto Asís, Putumayo, Colombia – May 11, 2026. Gran Tierra Energy and FEDECACAO announced the successful completion of the ‘Sembrando Futuro’ (Sowing the Future) program, an initiative focused on cultivating the next generation of cacao producers and strengthening the long-term sustainable development of the cacao industry in Putumayo. During the closing event, 30 students received diplomas recognizing their participation in a hands-on training program focused on cacao cultivation and chocolate and cacao -based production. The project began in May 2025 at the Institución Educativa Rural Ecológica El Cuembí in southern Putumayo and supported students from surrounding rural communities by promoting cacao crops as a viable economic opportunity. In addition to the students, the project promoted community knowledge sharing and reached more than 600 people across 36 rural communities in the Puerto Vega-Teteyé corridor.
‘Sowing the Future’ builds on prior investments in the region, including a cacao processing laboratory and a cacao plot established at the school, both of which serve as practical learning spaces. The Cacao Laboratory is equipped with specialized tools such as roasters, grain coolers, crushers, refiners, and other chocolate-processing equipment, enabling local producers and the students of the program to test and improve the quality of their products. This prior investment—exceeding COP $1,000 million—benefits more than 100 small producers from associations in the Puerto Vega corridor and the students in the ‘Sowing the Future’ project were able to use these state-of-the-art facilities throughout the project. Through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on experience, students were trained across the full cacao value chain—from planting and harvesting to transforming cacao into chocolate and other premium products—strengthening both technical skills and long-term community knowledge transfer.
Diego Pérez-Claramunt, President and Country Manager of Gran Tierra Energy in Colombia, said: “At Gran Tierra Energy, we believe sustainable development starts by strengthening local capacities and creating real opportunities within communities. ‘Sembrando Futuro’ demonstrates how strategic partnerships can promote legal economies, empower young people and support a more sustainable future for regions like Putumayo. We are especially grateful to FEDECACAO for their expertise and collaboration in making this initiative possible.”
Eduard Baquero López, President of Fedecacao, highlighted: “Cacao is a driver of peace, equity, and social transformation. Through the Sembrando Futuro strategy, fear is replaced with hope, creating new opportunities for children, youth, and their families, because cacao represents opportunity, territorial rootedness, and development for rural communities. We are grateful to an important partner such as Gran Tierra Energy for its trust in the Sembrando Futuro Child and Youth Inclusion strategy.”
‘Sembrando Futuro’ has contributed to the development of sustainable livelihoods by equipping young people with practical skills in the hope that one day they will continue to strengthen the local cacao value chain in Southern Putumayo. By creating pathways for future entrepreneurship, the program helps ensure that the benefits of today’s investments will continue to generate lasting economic, social, and environmental value for the communities of Putumayo into the future.