3 September 2025
Gran Tierra Energy, Government of Canada and SOCODEVI deliver a New Cacao Collection Centre in Villagarzón
- As part of the Agroemprende Cacao (Agroemprende) program, a new cacao collection centre was created in Villagarzón. This new facility will improve local cacao quality, increase productivity and provide access to broader markets.
- For the past five years, Gran Tierra Energy and the Government of Canada, through implementing partner SOCODEVI have collaborated to support over 800 rural families in Putumayo.
- In addition to the infrastructure investment of the cacao collection centre, which added to other 4 collecting centres delivered as part of this initiative, the Agroemprende project has provided technical assistance, and training to families advancing their agricultural activities and strengthening their livelihoods.
Villagarzón, September 3rd 2025. As part of the Agroemprende Cacao program, a new cacao collection centre was created in Villagarzón. Operated by ASOPROCAVIP, one of the region’s leading cacao associations, this facility is the result of a strategic partnership between the Government of Canada and Gran Tierra Energy and implemented by Canadian NGO SOCODEVI. The initiative aims to enhance cacao production and commercialization across Putumayo. Over 800 families, which are part of the local associations, will be able to use this facility as a centralized place to collect and process cacao, allowing producers to save time, reduce costs and improve logistic efficiency. The collection centres also allow producers access larger and more diversified markets, resulting in increased capacity and incomes.
The collection centres are just one aspect of the Agroemprende project. This full cycle initiative focused on technical assistance, infrastructure investments, and training, supporting and growing this local industry and the families behind it. The beneficiaries and their families have, through this program, strengthened their livelihoods and have implemented more effective and efficient technical practices in their agricultural activities.
Diego Perez-Claramunt, President and Country Manager of Gran Tierra Energy in Colombia, commented, “This new cacao Collection Centre in Villagarzón represents a milestone in the Putumayo’s cacao industry as it will make their businesses more profitable by reducing costs and providing the potential to access new and bigger markets. We are pleased that our focus on supporting the development of the cacao industry in the region has resulted in real benefits that have impacted more than 800 families. Gran Tierra remains committed to continuing supporting the strengthening of the legal regional economy of Putumayo´s cacao farmers which is an important part of the consolidation of the peace process in the region.”
“The Agroemprende Cacao project stands out as an innovative model that is creating meaningful opportunities for rural families and women across the region,” said Elizabeth Williams, Ambassador of Canada to Colombia. “Canada is proud to contribute to this collaborative initiative, which strengthens the cacao value chain in a way that is sustainable, inclusive, and economically viable. Through the dedication of both public and private sector partners, we are helping to advance the agricultural sector and foster long-term development in Colombia.”
This new centre complements other critical infrastructure built through the program, including four cacao processing facilities, that have standardized post-harvest practices and improved bean quality. Having collecting centres network in the region will reduce travel times for producers located in different rural areas, reducing transportation costs and travel time. With multiple centres operating, congestion during harvest seasons is also avoided, allowing for faster flow of collection, drying, and storage. To date, these efforts have contributed to more than COP$19.000 million in cacao commercialization—an impact expected to grow with the addition of the Villagarzón centre.
Noraldo Javier Ruiz Hoyos, Representative of Villagarzon´s Producers Association said “I want to thank Gran Tierra Energy and Socodevi, the Mayor of Villagarzón and his and his Agriculture Secretary for helping us make our dreams come true. Thanks to the joint work between the private company, Socodevi, and the local community, today we have this new infrastructure that will help us continue working for our families and for our region. We hope to keep working this way and achieving many more results.
Aligned with its commitment to go Beyond Compliance, Gran Tierra Energy has played a key role in advancing sustainable rural development and promoting legal economic alternatives in Putumayo. The Company’s support for Agroemprende has helped create a resilient and stronger value chain—enabling producers to increase their productivity and improve quality standards by having proper facilities for the storage and handling of cacao.
As part of Gran Tierra’s broader strategy to support farmers in transitioning to legal crops, the Company has put a large focus on developing the cacao industry in the region. In addition to Agroemprende, the Company helped establish the Regional Cacao Committee of Putumayo making the Putumayo the first department in Colombia with an officially recognized Regional Cacao Committee. This provides local producers with a voice in the National Cacao Committee. GTE also supported the creation of the region’s first Cacao Laboratory, located in Puerto Asís. The facility is equipped with high-quality tools—such as toaster ovens, grain coolers, crushers, refiners, and chocolate processing equipment. This allows for producers to test and improve product quality, enhance crop performance, and expand access to new markets. Finally, the Company expanded the NaturAmazonas program to cultivate organic, deforestation-free cacao in the region. In 2024, these local Putumayo associations exported 12.5 tons of cacao, and in 2025, farmers from Putumayo will continue to export 50 tons of cacao to Europe.
The Villagarzón collection centre marks another milestone in this public-private partnership and reinforces Gran Tierra’s long-standing commitment to building local capacity, strengthening rural economies, and supporting peace through legal, sustainable development.