14 September 2022
Gran Tierra Energy's Social Investment Projects Continue to Yield Significant Results, Directly Benefitting Cocoa Farmers, Entrepreneurs, Women and Youth in Putumayo
- 644 entrepreneurs participated in Gran Tierra’s social investment program called Emprender+, which provides technical and financial assistance to small local entrepreneurs to strengthen and expand their businesses.
- The first Cocoa Research Center was opened in La Carmelita, Putumayo which can benefit all 1,120 cocoa growers in the region. Local producers can access technology, capital, and training to strengthen their production and expand their market opportunities.
- The PetrolCopa project will see 500 Putumayo students present their projects later this month, focusing on water and biodiversity protection. This initiative works with local schools to foster teamwork and problem-solving skills in students.
Puerto Asís, September 14th, 2022. Gran Tierra Energy is pleased to share the results of its social investment projects that have been successfully implemented in Putumayo over the past year. The company has supported local entrepreneurs through the Emprender+ project, will create new opportunities for local cocoa farmers through the opening of a new Cocoa Research Center and is developing the skills of local students through the PetrolCopa project.
Through these initiatives, Gran Tierra is showing its ongoing efforts to support both the economic and social development of local communities in Putumayo. These three projects are only a few examples of Gran Tierra’s commitment to go “Beyond Compliance”, which means that, wherever there are significant opportunities and benefits to the environment or communities, the Company voluntarily goes beyond what is legally required to protect the environment and provide social benefits because we believe is the right thing to do.
Emprender+
At an event today in Mocoa, Putumayo more than 600 entrepreneurs were recognized for their participation in the Emprender+ project. In partnership with Scotiabank, Gran Tierra has undertaken this impactful project that promotes the economic growth and empowerment of local businesses by providing tools, including financial support and technical training, to strengthen local entrepreneurs’ ventures in a sustainable way. This year the 145 most outstanding participants had access to additional financial funding which will allow them to further grow their businesses.
Cocoa Research Center
Gran Tierra Energy is proud to announce the opening of a new Cocoa Research Center located in the El Cuembl Rural Ecological Educational Institution in the village of La Carmelita, Puerto Asís. Thanks to a partnership between SENA (the National Apprenticeship Service), Gran Tierra Energy and USAID, this new research center has the potential to benefit all the cocoa growers in the region which includes 14 cocoa producer companies and 1,120 families directly linked to cocoa production. The Research Center has high quality equipment such as ovens, grain coolers, crushers, scrapers, refiners, timers, and chocolate agroindustry elements. These new tools will allow local producers to test their products and improve its quality, which will in turn lead to better producing crops and expanded market opportunities.
PetrolCopa
Gran Tierra Energy is also excited to highlight the PetrolCopa School Challenge, which will see more than 500 local students from Putumayo present their projects on water and biodiversity protection on Tuesday, September 23rd. This is the third year that Gran Tierra has undertaken this project alongside the Colombian Society of Petroleum Engineers. The project teaches students about water usage, the importance of protecting natural sources of water and the ways in which companies like Gran Tierra implement strategies and strict environmental protection measures to protect the environment during their operational activities.
Over the last four years Gran Tierra´s social investment projects have benefited over 255,000 people next to our operations and in 2021 alone, 55% of these beneficiaries were women. These initiatives are just a few examples of the important work Gran Tierra Energy is undertaking in the Putumayo and for the company, these partnerships are the building blocks of productive operating environments which can then benefit local communities near our operations.