Together with one of our trusted NGO partners, Gift of the Givers, we will continue to fight hunger and reach our commitment of #zerohunger by 2030.
Through the sale of each bag, R10 (VAT incl) is donated to the Woolworths Trust; your donation supports the distribution of food packs containing a balance of protein, fresh fruit, vegetable and other nutritional staples. Read more at http://www.woolworths.co.za/zerohunger
What is #zerohunger 2030
#zerohunger world 2030 is a global initiative, urging action that promotes making healthy diets available to all people in the world. The campaign makes the point that it is not only the estimated 820 million undernourished people who are of concern; it’s the considerably greater number of people who are overweight or obese who are of concern. South Africa is a microcosm of this global predicament with high rates of undernourishment and obesity.
With nutritious food at the heart of Woolworths business, the retailer has committed to a #zerohunger future, engaging in a number of partnerships to alleviate hunger, educate and improve access to healthy, sustainable diets.
Woolworths takes a multi-level approach to in realising this vision, from addressing the environmental impact of food production through the ongoing initiative Farming for the Future, to supporting improved nutrition in schools through a pilot project in partnership with UNICEF and the Gauteng Department of Education. Food waste is considerably reduced through donating surplus food to over a thousand charitable organisations across the country and supporting FoodForwardSA. Contributing to sustainable livelihoods is addressed through its support of the Living Soils Community Learning Farm with partners; the Sustainability Institute and Spier Biodynamic Farm FarmA further initiative incorporates a social benefit; teaching people to grow their own nutritious food.
Plant – Grow – Share
What is LIVING SOILS?
The Living Soils Community Learning Farm – an initiative between partners Woolworths, Spier Biodynamic Farm, the Sustainability Institute and its AgroEcology Academy – is a learning farm situated in Lynedoch, Stellenbosch. The farm demonstrates ecologically restorative methods that replenish the earth while growing nutrient-rich foods to improve community food security. This involves training and development to empower emerging, young farmers with the skills that ensures local youth employment while tackling food insecurity.
The project was initiated in March 2019; eight months later the first vegetables were harvested from the learning farm. Since then, approximately 6 095 kilograms of produce – including carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, cucumber, baby marrow, tomatoes, butternut, gem squash, spring onion, green pepper, green beans and mielies – have been harvested from just under a hectare of land.
“It was a wonderful moment when we delivered the first order to the Sustainability Institute to use in the meals prepared for approximately 200 impoverished ‘at-risk’ children from the Lynedoch community. This is one of the main objectives of the Living Soils Community Learning Farm; to improve food security within the community, starting with Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centres,“ says Rirhandzu Marivate, Project Manager for the Living Soils Community Learning Farm.
Since the first harvest, 45% of produce goes to various beneficiaries; School Feeding Programmes at the Sustainability Institute and Lynedoch valley community households. Produce is also sold to as local restaurants and wholesalers, and surplus produce is donated to FoodForward SA.
Together with our partners, we’re making a difference
Woolworths ‘Farming for the Future’ focuses on improving food security and sustainable farming. Woolworths came onboard with funding of R4.4 million over a three-year period. “We’re very excited to play a key role in this partnership,” says Zinzi Mgolodela, Woolworths Director of Corporate Affairs. “The partners share the vision of the Living Soils Community Learning Farm: to become a viable model of community-based food security, and providesustainable development of local livelihoods that can be replicated all over South Africa. The project will also benefit from access to sustainable farming expertise in our supply chain.”
Spier Biodynamic Farm has contributed three hectares of land and farming equipment to the Living Soils Community Learning Farm. Heidi Newton-King, Spier’s HR and Sustainability Director says: “Spier’s Growing for Good initiatives support communities through enabling learning; by contributing land and resources, we look forward to exploring the development of a long-term impact model”.
The Sustainability Institute and its Agro Ecology Academy will host and drive the project. Jess Schulschenk, Director of the Sustainability Institute says: “Research will form an important part of this programme; documenting best practice in ecologically-restorative approaches to nutritious food production, and understanding how social justice and innovation can be driven through sustainable food systems and models. We look forward to the learning, advocacy and thought leadership that will emerge from this very rooted and necessary work to realise food security, youth skills development and land reform in practice.”
Like unemployment, food insecurity remains constant and widespread in South Africa, where forms of malnutrition such as physical wasting, stunted growth and unhealthy eating co-exist with significant impacts on health and wellbeing.
In addition, Woolworths vision to contribute to sustainable livelihoods through teaching cultivation of nutritious food sustainably is evident in the Living Soils Community Learning Farm, where Woolworths partners The Sustainability Institute and Spier Biodynamic Farm. The project aims to offer the country an innovative, collaborative model to improve food security, while boosting livelihoods and access to land.
Bags 4 Good
