Five Fruit Trees Planted at UTech, Jamaica UNESCO-UNEVOC Conference in observance of World Food Day

The Honourable Audley Shaw, CD, MP, (left), Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries presents a fruit tree seedling to( from left) Professor Stephen Vasciannie, CD, President, University of Technology, Jamaica,, Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies (FELS) students David Dennis and Natasha Stewart and Lecturer, Dr. Audrey DaCosta.  The plant seedlings were presented  at the opening ceremony of the inaugural UTech, Jamaica UNESCO-UNEVOC Centre for Research and Sustainable Development Conference and Exhibition on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 at Lecture Theatre 50, Shared Facilities Building, Papine Campus.

The University of Technology, Jamaica through its UNESCO-UNEVOC Centre for Research and Sustainable Development hosted an inaugural conference and exhibition  on the theme, “Advocating Food Security, Good Nutrition and poverty Eradication Through Education,”  in observance of World Food Day and International Day for the Eradication of Poverty from October 16 - 17, 2018 at the Shared Facilities Building, Papine Campus.  

Following the opening ceremony on October 16, five fruit tree seedlings were planted on the Papine Campus in observance of World Food Day - Ackee, Breadfruit, Lychee, Jackfruit and a Miracle tree. The seedlings were planted in the vicinity of the Shared Facilities Building and across from the historic silos.

Professor Stephen Vasciannie, President, UTech, Jamaica in his remarks thanked the Ministry of Industry and Commerce for extending its Food Tree Planting Initiative to the University campus.  He expressed hope that these trees will bear fruit for many future generations of students and staff at the University. The President also noted that one of the ways in which Jamaica can invest in food security is through rural development and fostering capacity for entrepreneurship among young people in rural communities.

Keynote speaker The Honourable Audley Shaw, CD, MP, Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries  recommended that the planting of food trees become a part of the Jamaican culture and a way of life.  Encouraging all Jamaicans to plant a tree each year commemorating his/her birthday, the Minister emphasized that planting a tree can go a far way to solve our hunger and poverty problems.  “If every Jamaican plants at least one food tree on his or her birthday each year, that would be 2.7 million fruit trees planted each year…so my mission of having 1 million trees planted per year for five years, 5 million in five years can be achieved,” the Minister said.   Minister Shaw also encouraged UTech, Jamaica students to look for business opportunities in agro processing to help alleviate Jamaica’s low food production rate and high dependency on food imports.  “For every crisis there is a seed of greater benefit,” he said, adding that this is an opportunity for Jamaica, not just to feed ourselves, but to feed the world.

Dr. Rohan Lewis, Dean, Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies who chaired the opening ceremony, explained that the UNESCO-UNEVOC Centre for Sustainable Development established in 2012 at UTech, Jamaica, is a University-wide unit housed in the Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies aimed at strengthening research  activities and  the delivery of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Jamaica.  He noted that the conference was convened against the backdrop of a set of national imperatives emerging from discussions about the impact of food security and nutrition on economic growth and development.    

Dr. Everton Lewis, Lecturer, FELS and Coordinator, UNESCO-UNEVOC Centre for Research and Sustainable Development, UTech, Jamaica in his overview said that the conference is an important platform for advancing UNESCO’s 2030 agenda for world Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2 which speak to No Poverty and Zero Hunger.  He noted that the objectives of the conference are to provide research-based, innovative solutions to food security, nutrition and poverty eradication and to inform policies at the local, national, regional and international levels. UNESCO-UNEVOC operates through regional and global networks. The Centre at FELS, UTech, Jamaica is one of two in the island, the other being at the HEART Trust/NTA.

The two-day conference comprised  six scientific sessions delivered by experts in the areas of food science and agriculture, nutrition and entrepreneurship drawn from non-profit organisations, government and UTech, Jamaica faculty.   Themes discussed included  Food Security and Nutrition: The Regional/International Perspective;  Food Security, Nutrition, Poverty Eradication and Education Policy; Multi-Stakeholders Response to Food Security and Poverty Eradication; Alleviating the Poverty Challenge; Initiatives to Combat Poverty in Jamaica and Youth Entrepreneurship Supporting Sustainable Development.

Exhibitors  included  UTech, Jamaica’s Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies, College of Health Sciences, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries, Ministry of Health, Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), College of Agriculture, Science and Education (CASE), Scientific Research Council, (SRC), the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute, (CARDI), The Food Basket, Food and Agriculture Organization of  the United Nations, Jamaica Agricultural Society, Jamaica Dairy Development Board, Rural Agriculture Development Authority, Jamaica 4-H Clubs, Ebony Park HEART Academy, Institute of Jamaica, National Commission for Science and Technology and Steer Town Academy, TVET Project of the Year 2017/18.

The UNESCO-UNEVOC conference was organised by a planning committee with membership from the Faculty of Education and Liberal Studies, College of Health Sciences, the Faculty of The Built Environment led by Chairman, Dr. Everton Lewis.

Tree Planting

At left, The Honourable Audley Shaw, CD, MP, Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries plants an ackee tree seedling.   Looking on (l –r) Mr. Courtney Cole, Chief Technical Director, Special Projects, MICAF, Dr.  Ronald Blake, Executive Director, Jamaica 4H Clubs, Mr. Reginald Budhan, Chairman Tree Crop Project Management Committee, MICAF, Professor Stephen Vasciannie, CD, President, UTech, Jamaica and Dr. Gillian Smith, Resident Representative, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations.  Below, Professor Stephen Vasciannie, plants a jackfruit seedling while the group looks on.

Dr. Gillian Smith (top, left), Resident Representative, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations plants a breadfruit tree seedling. Below, Dr. Andreen Collings, Acting Permanent Secretary, MICAF plants a miracle fruit seedling in the vicinity of the Shared Facilities Building.

Mr. Carvel Williams, Students’ Union, FELS representative plants a lychee seedling located across from the Silos and the Student Activity Centre.

End.

Contact:
Michelle Beckford (Mrs.)
Corporate Communications Manager
University of Technology, Jamaica
Telephone: 970-5299
Email: mbeckford@utech.edu.jm