The oil and gas industry promotes rural cocoa agribusinesses in Colombia

Improving the living and business conditions of cocoa producers in various regions of Colombia is the main objective of AGROEMPRENDE CACAO, a rural development program in which Gran Tierra Energy, Mansarovar Energy Colombia, and Repsol, affiliated companies of the ACP, participate.

This important alliance to strengthen the cocoa value chain, emphasizing the empowerment of farming families, their professionalization, and company quality, is led by the Government of Canada, through the Society for International Development Cooperation (Socodevi). It is also financed and supported by Ecopetrol, Grupo Prodeco, GIZ, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia.

With this program, the oil and gas industry contributes to the establishment and management of 3,300 hectares of cocoa in five regions of Colombia, with a projection to benefit more than 5,000 family businesses cultivating the grain.

Agroemprende Cacao has been implemented since 2019 and will end in 2025, when approximately 36 million Canadian dollars will have been invested in strengthening the cocoa value chain and rural agribusinesses.

This project benefits farmers in Putumayo, Cesar, Meta, Magdalena Medio, and the West of Boyacá, with activities that favor women's participation, the development of sustainable cooperative businesses, and the efficient use of environmental resources through agroforestry cocoa systems.

Rubén Escamilla, representative of Socodevi in Colombia, states that “AGROEMPRENDE CACAO is of vital importance to concentrate the efforts of allies in diversifying the rural economy, empowering women and youth.”.

This initiative, with resources from international cooperation and investment from the mixed public and extractive private sector, has managed to reach six departments and 40 municipalities in Colombia, approximately 1,600 rural areas.

Yina Marieth Bello Florido, from the organization ASORECAMM, assures that “thanks to AGROEMPRENDE CACAO we have seen the results, because it has improved the way we produce. In addition, they have trained people to work with more love. It has undoubtedly been a strategic and exceptional ally.”.

Through training in inclusive governance, administrative, financial, and commercial management, solid practices in rural businesses and healthy and intelligent agro-environmental systems in the face of climate change are strengthened.

The oil and gas industry constantly supports the development of Colombia in material, social, environmental, and economic aspects. Learn more about Sustainability Facts.