Gran Tierra Energy supports the development of the cacao industry in Putumayo as a pathway to sustainable livelihoods, environmental conservation, and long-term peace. By promoting cacao as a viable, legal, and environmentally responsible economic alternative, we help strengthen rural communities, improve incomes, and support the transition away from illicit economies—while protecting the unique biodiversity of the Amazon region. Through long-term partnerships and targeted investments, we have contributed to building a resilient cacao value chain that benefits both producers and the environment.

Delivering Results: From Putumayo to Global Markets

This commitment has already delivered tangible results. In 2025, Putumayo reached a major milestone by securing the export of 50 tons of organic, deforestation-free cacao to Europe, representing a 300% increase compared to 2024. This achievement positioned the region as a growing source of high-quality, sustainable cacao that meets international standards. These exports—destined for markets such as Belgium—were made possible through partnerships with international buyers like Kaoka, a European chocolate company recognized for its organic and fair-trade model.

For local producers, this translated into:

• Access to premium international markets
• Higher and more stable incomes
• Increased competitiveness through certified, high-quality products

Building the Foundations for Growth

Behind these commercial achievements is a long-term strategy focused on strengthening infrastructure and logistics across the value chain.

A New Milestone: Villagarzón Collection Centre

As part of the Agroemprende Cacao program, a cacao collection centre in Villagarzón is providing critical support to producers. Operated by ASOPROCAVIP and developed in partnership with the Government of Canada and SOCODEVI, this facility serves more than 800 families.

By providing a centralized location for collection and processing, the centre:

• Reduced transportation time and costs
• Improved efficiency and coordination
• Enabled producers to meet larger commercial demands

Strengthening the Value Chain

The Villagarzón facility is part of a broader effort to modernize cacao commercialization in Putumayo, including:

• Four processing facilities that standardized post-harvest practices and improved bean quality
• A network of collection centres that reduced logistical barriers
• Infrastructure that improved the flow of collection, drying, and storage during harvest seasons

Beyond Infrastructure: Building Capacity and Sustainability

Gran Tierra Energy’s support extends beyond infrastructure and works to strengthen the long-term competitiveness of the sector:

• Cacao Laboratory in Puerto Asís: Enabled producers to test, refine, and improve cacao quality to meet international standards.
• Regional Cacao Committee of Putumayo: Established as the first officially recognized committee of its kind in Colombia, giving producers a voice at the national level.

Investing in the Future: Empowering the Next Generation

Building a sustainable cacao industry also requires investing in future generations. Through Sowing the Future (Sembrando Futuro), Gran Tierra Energy is helping empower youth in southern Putumayo to see agriculture as a dignified and viable career with real economic potential. The program connects education with hands-on experience through infrastructure such as a cacao processing laboratory and a demonstration plot, where students complement classroom learning with practical training across the entire cacao value chain—from cultivation to value-added production.

Key outcomes include:

• Training a cohort of 30 students in technical and entrepreneurial skills
• Strengthening knowledge of income-generating opportunities within cacao production
• Promoting peer-to-peer learning and mentorship
• Encouraging students to return and use program facilities for their own entrepreneurial projects

A Shared Vision for the Future

The transformation of Putumayo’s cacao industry—from local production to international exports—demonstrates the value of long-term investment, strong partnerships, and community leadership. Together with its partners, Gran Tierra Energy continues to support the positioning of Putumayo as a global benchmark for sustainable cacao production, unlocking lasting opportunities for communities across the region.

“Many of us used to make a living from illicit crops. Programs like this give us a real alternative. With cacao, we can build a more stable and healthy livelihood.”

MISAEL CAVICHE

Cacao Farmer, Cabildo Kiwe Ñuxsxa, Colombia

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Gran Tierra Energy’s flagship Ecuador social investment project Sustainable Sucumbíos, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, focuses on transforming agricultural processes to make them more profitable and sustainable. GTE has invested US$3.3 million over four years, which has directly benefited nearly 1,000 local farming families in Ecuador, by improving agricultural productivity and increasing household income through agricultural technical assistance, training and supplies. This initiative supports long-term agricultural development by enhancing crop productivity, strengthening local livelihoods, and promoting environmentally responsible farming practices in the region.

GTE’s commitment to fostering sustainable growth in Ecuadorian communities through this project has delivered meaningful results. Notable achievements include the distribution of approximately 80,000 cacao plants to local farmers and the delivery of agricultural machinery units and cows to support the growth of farming operations in the region. In addition to the resources given to the local families participating in the program, GTE provides technical skills development through training and workshops. In 2025, 466 beneficiaries were trained in agriculture and livestock field schools.

The project was first developed and implemented together with local communities of the 5 Ases, October 15, Lojanitos, La Milagreña, Pio Jaramillo and Rey del Oriente communities and since 2024, Sustainable Sucumbíos was expanded to include the communities of Union Balsareña, Patria Nueva, and Santa Mariana. To date, the program has benefited 944 families in the area surrounding GTE’s operations.

In 2025, Gran Tierra Energy, in collaboration with Ecuador’s Ministry of Agriculture, completed the first Livestock Field School in Santa Marianita. Forty local producers graduated from this training program, which focused on strengthening livestock management, improving agricultural production practices, and promoting the long-term sustainability of their productive projects. In line with our social investment commitments, Gran Tierra also provided livestock, supplies, and equipment to support productive development in the area.

“The training we received has given us what we need to begin to plant, maintain and harvest our cacao more productively. It’s early in the process, but I’m already implementing the new techniques and I’m confident they will be beneficial.”

Jose Luiz Tacuri

Farmer, 15 Octubre, Sucumbíos

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GTE’s successful Key Partners program has evolved from a simple award given to the best performing vendors into an integrated, multi-stage program with five components. This program has led to tremendous growth in the capabilities, capacity and competitiveness of vendors in the areas where the company operates.

GTE’s Key Partners program helps supply chain partners develop their technical and administrative capabilities. Key Partners includes educational programs tailored to the needs of local suppliers in partnership with well-respected academic institutions and regional Chambers of Commerce. Key Partners also facilitates relationships between contractors and local suppliers, fostering a growing ecosystem of opportunities for area businesses. Performance evaluations measure, recognize, and reward outstanding vendors.

Components of Key Partners

• Developing close, beneficial relationships with existing and potential vendors through continuous contact with dedicated company staff. This ensures ongoing dialogue and alignment between vendor and company.
• Dedicated high-value training offered to managers and owners of vendor companies delivered in partnership with regional Chambers of Commerce.
• Supply Chain standards that ensure GTE’s contractors are also sourcing from local suppliers.
• Performance evaluations that measure, recognize and reward outstanding vendors.
• Facilitating relationships between contractors and local suppliers to foster a growing ecosystem of opportunities for area businesses.

Gran Tierra’s Commitment to our Key Partners

• Economic Growth
  Gran Tierra Energy promotes free competition as a constitutional right. This encourages local businesses to provide higher quality goods and services not only to our operations, but also to Colombia and Ecuador.
• Education Development
  Gran Tierra develops educational programs tailored to the needs of our local suppliers. Through these programs we are providing opportunities for educational advancement with well-respected academic institutions.
• Improved Networking
  We provide our Key Partners with full access to the database for commercial opportunities with Gran Tierra and our contractors.
• Sustainable Relationships
  Gran Tierra recognizes the importance of sustaining strong relationships with our suppliers and contractors through our Key Partners program. We are always willing to listen and assist our Key Partners.

Members of the Key Partners Program are Expected To:

• Offer high quality goods and services.
• Submit competitive proposals, both in price and quality, when invited to bid.
• Be a collaborative partner with the goal of ensuring that GTE operations are carried out safely and accurately.
• Respect corporate decisions made by GTE or its contractors.
• Understand and apply GTE’s Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Policies in their business practices.
• Participate in activities developed by GTE aimed at strengthening business skills.

“When we started, we were just a small company knocking on doors, and many turned us down. When we were given a chance with Gran Tierra it was transformative. Now, because of our track record of meeting GTE’s high standards, we are often first in line for projects with other companies. We see our relationship as a partnership, and when GTE succeeds, we succeed. ”

Andres Aguilar

Servicios y Soluciones Innovadoras de Ingeniería

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GTE continues to increase opportunities for local contractors and suppliers through a strategy focusing on putting local companies first to meet its needs for goods and services, only expanding its search beyond the locality if no qualified providers are available. Local vendors are an important driver of regional economies, as GTE’s contributions circulate well beyond its direct supply chain.

Providing opportunities for local businesses to participate and evolve with GTE’s operations is a fundamental value. Significant investments have been made in training, education and operations to drive economic growth and build a reliable supply chain through its award-winning Key Partners program.

“Since we first entered the hydrocarbon transportation sector, we’ve continuously learned and improved. We have taken the knowledge we gained from GTE in Colombia and implemented it in our operations here in Ecuador to build a safer and more efficient operation.”

Edwin Jiménez

President, Cooperativa de Transporte, Lago Agrio, Ecuador

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Emprender+, GTE’s signature entrepreneurship-based social investment project, is a critical component of GTE’s efforts to address local economic challenges. For the last several years, the program has created opportunities for people to strengthen their businesses and launch new companies while bolstering local economies in Colombia’s Middle Magdalena Valley and Putumayo regions.

Emprender+ provides technical training, business management guidance, and seed capital along with recognition for innovative business ideas and execution. The program, carried out in partnership with the World Corporation for Women in Colombia (CMMC), also helps entrepreneurs navigate the technical, administrative and management challenges of operating a small business. The popularity of the program has grown steadily and rapidly from 30 to over 700 participating entrepreneurs since its inception, 74% of participants have been female, and over 2,000 people were registered to participate since the program started in 2021.

“The program gave me the structure I needed and taught me how to think like a business owner. That made the difference.”

JESENIA LINDARTE ANGARITA

Owner, Empacadora Macarena

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Works for Taxes (WFT) is a program created by the Colombian government that allows GTE to use up to 50% of its income tax contributions to directly develop and implement local projects that improve livelihoods, support economic development and help stabilize territories most affected by poverty and the previous armed conflict. WFT is also an important component of Colombia’s Territorially Focused Development Programs (PDETs) following the 2016 peace agreement signed between the FARC-EP guerrilla movement and the Colombian government. The PDETs are a vital tool for rural development and lasting territorial peace that empowers local communities to decide how funds should be invested in their territories.

GTE’s participation in Colombia’s Works for Taxes program allows income taxes to be invested directly into priority areas to address social inequality—such as food security, health, education, and road enhancements.

Since first participating in 2018, Gran Tierra has become one of the largest private contributors to the program, directing nearly million USD toward public infrastructure in southern Colombia over time. In 2025 alone, Gran Tierra invested in three major Works for Taxes projects that will benefit 21 communities in Putumayo.

A New Aqueduct System

The first project involves the construction of a new aqueduct system that will provide safe water to more than 1,300 residents in rural communities across the municipalities of Mocoa, Valle del Guamuez, and Puerto Asís. Each water treatment system is carefully designed to address the specific needs and conditions of the communities it serves. By improving access to safe water, the project is expected to enhance overall community health and reduce and prevent water-related risks and illnesses.

Improved Roads

In Valle del Guamuez, Putumayo, the Company will pave over 1 kilometre of rural gravel roads consisting of four sections, benefiting 4,808 people who use these roads regularly to transit within the urban area of this village. In Rionegro, Santander, another four sections of rural gravel roads will also be paved. These important road enhancements will make travel easier and faster for local residents. It will also improve access to essential services and boost the local economy by making it more cost effective for local entrepreneurs, farmers and businesses to transport their products to local and national markets. Additionally, new concrete roads have been proven to reduce traffic accidents and personal injuries, contributing to greater safety for the communities living close to our operations. Between the two road infrastructure improvement projects over 27,000 people will benefit.

Improved School Infrastructure

The third project will see the construction of new major infrastructure made to the Tesalia School, a rural educational institution, which serves the school-age population from the municipality of Orito and offers preschool, primary, rural post-primary and secondary education. Through this project a new sports facility and a new teacher workspace will be built, benefiting 209 students and teachers. The sports facility will be a covered coliseum designed to support various sports disciplines and recreational activities for the students and the community. It features a multi-purpose court suitable for basketball, soccer, and volleyball and will include spectator stands, dressing rooms, bathrooms, artificial lighting, and a roof that provides protection from rain and sun. This project will also create a new teachers’ workspace, designated for the work and coordination of the teaching staff. This space will play a vital role as a place for academic planning, lesson preparation, and internal meetings. This new infrastructure within the school will become a new gathering point for exchanging information relevant to both school and community activities.

Previous Works for Taxes Projects implemented by Gran Tierra Energy

• Two projects for cafeteria upgrades provided by GTE to 152 schools in the Puerto Caicedo and Orito villages, support increased food security for local students, as the participating schools now have the ability to store and prepare nutritious food, keeping students in school longer. 12,000 students and teachers are benefiting from this initiative.
• The lives of more than 15,300 people in the communities between Campo Alegre and Puerto Vega are benefiting from road upgrades completed by GTE to important tertiary roads.
• GTE has delivered sanitary units to communities in the municipality of Villagarzu00f3n. Families from the communities of La Cafelina, Canangucho, Champagnath, Germania, San Isidro and El Porvenir received a sanitary unit, which included a sink, toilet, shower and laundry station.

“As a rural community, Works for Taxes is so important to keep the benefits here, and allows us to focus on improving our transportation infrastructure. The project has had a huge impact, and we are looking forward to extending this collaboration to continue changing the lives of our people and helping them envision a different future.”

SEGUNDO RUBIEL SOLARTE

President, Jac Santa Maria Medio

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