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Planting the seeds for a sustainable tomorrow.
Last year, as part of the global United Nations-led initiative to accelerate and support efforts to address climate change, we proudly joined the Net-Zero Banking Alliance.
Here in T&T, we recognise our role in achieving the global goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. As we embark on this journey, we teamed up with the SURE Foundation to contribute to food sustainability via the distribution of seedlings amongst farmers and households in rural areas.
“Most of the time, you plant to sell. During the planting process, you will be eating too. The garden will take a little while to come because most of these things take 6 weeks/ 3 months. Bhaigan, squash pumpkin, peppers, tomatoes, ochros… The kind of support you getting from the Foundation, it’s up to you to flop and you don’t want to flop; because on the way to success, we passing failure straight.”
- Desmond Christopher, Local Farmer - St. Charles, Gasparillo.
“I enjoy planting my own crop knowing that there are less pesticides, chemicals, herbicides and fungicides used in the process. It’s an exciting feeling to know that the vegetables I plant are better to eat; things like bhaigan, sweet peppers, hot peppers, pimiento, tomatoes, silk figs, green figs, cassava and herbs and seasoning like rosemary, basil, thyme, marigold.”
- Brian Mayers, Local Farmer - Reform, Gasparillo.
The SURE Foundation
The Sustainable Unemployment Reduction Efforts (SURE) Foundation was founded in 2010 and over the past 2 years, through our partnership, 567,678 free seedlings have been distributed to more than 15,500 households, 50 farmers, 25 orphanages, 30 community groups.
Tomato, patchoi, lettuce, pimiento pepper, eggplant and cauliflower seedlings, just to name a few, were distributed to:
- help reduce the food bill of these households and homes, and
- encourage healthy eating habits.
In 2023, the Scotia Foundation is funding the distribution of 250,000 seedlings across additional households and children’s homes. 700 fruit trees will be added to the initiative at the children’s homes and SURE Foundation will also work with a targeted group of households this year to enhance their gardens in order to provide income for their families.