Author: Admin
Dilmah invites industry collaboration to strengthen sustainability and resilience in Ceylon Tea
With the climate emergency clouding prospects for farmers globally, Dilmah Tea invited stakeholders in Ceylon Tea to a collaboration aimed at embedding sustainability and resilience into Sri Lanka’s tea industry. The initiative is linked to wider conservation, restoration and sustainable agriculture efforts by Dilmah Conservation, linked to its genesis, nature based solutions program, and its global climate action efforts via the Dilmah Conservation, One Earth Climate Research and Adaptation Centre. The initiative envisages collaboration with Universities and Researchers in strengthening climate resilience on tea plantations through more regenerative forms of agriculture. Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando founded Dilmah Tea with emphasis on family values and a commitment to kindness to people and nature. That foundation is reinforced by his lifetime of devotion to Ceylon Tea until he passed away in July last year. In 2012 the family company established Biodiversity Sri Lanka with the intention of escalating its own efforts at conservation through Biodiversity Sri Lanka into a broader coalition. Recently Merrill J. Fernando’s son Dilhan, now Chairman and CEO of Dilmah Tea, invited stakeholders in the tea industry to a collaboration aimed at driving sustainability in the Ceylon Tea industry. The launch event was held on 1 December 2023 at Dilmah’s ‘Founder’s Auditorium’, where 128 regional plantation companies and representatives of tea smallholders convened. The meeting aimed at collectively addressing concerns and actions towards mitigating threats to the shared future of the tea industry. The focus was on the opportunity in greening the plantations, by supporting livelihoods and strengthening sustainability while mitigating the effects of increasing climate extremes. The opportunity for Ceylon Tea lies in building on sustainability to meet growing demand, strengthen livelihoods and consumer appeal while minimising environmental impact. The theme of the gathering reflected the reality of a shared future, “Stronger Together.” In July 2023, a similar initiative was launched to support sustainability among packaging material manufacturers – the Dilmah-MJF Sustainable Supply Chain Road Map focuses on strengthening capacity of small and medium packaging companies in the area of sustainability. While inviting collaboration for positive change, Dilmah offered support to colleagues and competitors in the industry. “Sustainability is too often viewed as a cost, when it is in reality an opportunity that builds resilience, strengthens consumer engagement and ensures the survival of businesses that take sustainability seriously,” stressed Dilhan C. Fernando. He added that while Dilmah Conservation had worked on conservation, restoration, climate action and sustainable agriculture since 2007, the “Stronger Together” initiative was aimed at extending those benefits across the Sri Lanka tea industry. Key figures in the tea industry and biodiversity, including Tea Board Chairman Niraj De Mel, Owita Naturals CEO Vihagun Ariyarathne, Anil Cooke of Asia Siyaka Commodities PLC, Conservation Biologist Prof. Enoka Kudavidanage addressed the event. Tea Board Chairman Niraj De Mel has been vocal in the past about the role of smallholder growers in the industry and need to reach production goals, particularly in the areas aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At the event, he also emphasised the relationship between the tea industry and sustainability explaining – “we have destroyed that tea bush by going away from the sustainability code and thereby come into the situation where we say we cannot achieve B60 (leaf program route).Don’t blame it on the weather and the lack of input – we have moved away from basics. If we are to be sustainable, we need to look after the tea bush and that is the only way we can also get into the top end of the tea market.” Ceylon tea marks 157 years since its inception with a Colombo Tea Convention this year. The uniqueness of the industry has ensured its survival through turbulence, industry change, and transformation while preserving the identity as a universally loved beverage. Dilmah invited the gathered tea plantation community to submit their proposals aligned with carbon emission reduction or higher education opportunities for children in the plantations. After a transparent evaluation, Dilmah’s MJF Foundation will support the most impactful proposals. In fulfilling Merrill J. Fernando’s pledge to make Dilmah a business that serves humanity, the company continues to use a minimum of 15% of its pre-tax profits for kindness to people and nature, via the MJF Foundation and Dilmah Conservation. The environmental and humanitarian efforts of both are documented in ‘Impact,’ an e-publication that can be accessed online [ https://issuu.com/dilmah/docs/impact_2022_family_business_serving_humanity ]. “Stronger Together” is a significant component in this effort, combining environmental and humanitarian priorities in a collaboration that will strengthen the foundation of Ceylon Tea for the next century.
MJF Foundation’s Curtiss Institute of Design Technology Adds a Feather to their Cap with New Accreditation
The Curtiss Institute of Design Technology, part of the MJF Foundation Moratuwa Centre, proudly announces the accreditation of its Information and Communication Technology Technician (ICTT) course as NVQ Level 3 by the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC). This accreditation is a testament to the Institute’s commitment to providing high-quality education and training in the field of information technology. The ICT Technician course, conducted by the MJF Foundation’s landmark Centre in Moratuwa has successfully fulfilled all national competency standards set by TVEC. The qualification awarded in the course includes NVQ Level 2 Units (01 + 02 + 06) and NVQ Level 3 Units (01 + 02 + 03 + 04 + 05 + 06 + 10). Since 2017, a total of 3,588 students have graduated from various ICT courses at the Curtiss Centre. Prior to that, from 2013, approximately 2,500 students benefited from their graphics training program. The recognition by TVEC adds further credibility to the Institute’s commitment to excellence in education. The Institute also extends its impact by providing IT classes for all MJF Kids under the age of 16, children with disabilities at the Rainbow Centre, and students from schools affiliated with the Cricket Live Foundation and the Empower Culinary and Hospitality School. Special training courses have also been conducted for teachers from smaller schools in the Greater Moratuwa area, addressing the digital divide. The Curtiss Institute, named after Darron Curtiss, a key Dilmah partner and friend from New Zealand, facilitates access to e-learning. Over the past seven years, the Institute has made significant progress in increasing access to education at all levels, particularly for marginalized women and youth. Notably, the Curtiss Institute has successfully transitioned its graduates into technology-enabled employment through partnerships with local employers and companies. The Institute collaborates closely with industry stakeholders to tailor training modules and curricula to meet the evolving needs of the job market, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared for IT roles. Courses at the Curtiss Institute range from 3 to 6 months, accommodating the needs of school leavers, and employed and part-time students. Students can choose between Information and Communication Technology Technician and Graphics courses based on their skills and interests. The Curtiss Institute takes pride in its alumni, which includes graphic designers employed by foreign companies and IT teachers. For close to a decade the Institute has remained committed to its mission of equipping school leavers and youth with relevant IT skills, ensuring they are job-ready and capable of thriving in today’s dynamic business environment, a reflection of the philosophy of Dilmah Founder and the Settlor of the MJF Foundation, Merrill J Fernando – that business is a matter of human service.
Sustain-Able Climate Action Challenge
A collaboration between European Union, Dilmah Tea and Dilmah: Genesis Centre for A Sustainable Future, this is a competition to encourage sustainable innovations among youth that will reduce, recycle, replace plastic or manage plastic waste more effectively. Six weeks of learning, crafting, testing, and competing began on the 24th of October with the launch of the competition. The launch featured speeches from the program organisers – The European Union and Genesis Dilmah Centre for A Sustainable Future, encouraging words from mentors, and pitches from the young competitors. For the nine competitors, it’s a race against time to perfect their sustainable innovations for a plastic-free world. This unique experience connects these school and university students with mentors and like-minded peers, all passionate about a sustainable future. One-on-one time and community sessions with knowledge experts who are key players in the plastic waste management and innovation will be a strength for these young innovators who are passionate about making an impact in their community through sustainability. By 4th week of the challenge the competitors will have refined their prototype as per the guidance of the competition mentors. After which their pitches will be re-valuated and the submissions further shortlisted to five finalists. These lucky few will be given the opportunity to pitch at the Demo Day (Finale) and stand a chance to win funding for further developing their innovation. Stay tuned for updates on: IG: genesis_srilanka dilmahconservation FB: Dilmah Conservation Genesis Sri Lanka .
Program to Innovate in Sri Lanka’s Food and Agriculture Sector
The Scale Up Shop is a six weeks workshop to upskill selected food and agri innovators. It will culminate in a demo day where the food and agri innovators get to pitch the agri and food innovation ecosystem. Implemented as part of the ‘Support to Small and Medium Enterprises in the Organic Agriculture Sector’ Programme, jointly co-financed by the European Union (EU) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Scale Up Shop program is a collaboration between GIZ, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, Dilmah Tea, and the National Innovation Agency (NIA). It is our that through similar programmes that the vision of our Founder Merrill J Fernando to empower visionary agripreneurs such as himself to create global brands like Dilmah. Why The Scale Up Shop? Sri Lanka’s food and agriculture industry needs innovative solutions that go beyond focusing solely on individual ingredients. To enhance the value chain and promote growth in the export market, it is crucial to transform talented local innovators’ ideas into scalable commercial products. This collaborative initiative aims to ignite innovation in Sri Lanka’s manufacturing and export sector by connecting local innovators with manufacturers seeking to expand their product portfolios and venture into international markets. The program fosters collaboration, builds partnerships, and expands Sri Lanka’s global footprint. What will it achieve? The primary objective of the Scale Up Shop program is to empower innovators by equipping them with the necessary skills and support to attract potential investors and propel their ventures to new heights. Through targeted training, mentorship, and networking opportunities, innovators will gain the knowledge and connections needed to showcase their products and secure vital funding for their intellectual property at the Demo Day—an essential milestone for future success in the market. After calling for applications from interested parties and through a rigorous screening process, the expert panel comprising of food and agri industry veterans were able to select 10 inventive agripreneurs. Applications underwent a comprehensive evaluation process, considering multiple criteria such as the uniqueness of the concept, its market viability, feasibility, scalability, and the potential influence it may have on the food and agriculture sector. What’s next? The Demo Day of The Scale Up Shop will take place on Sep 21, 2023. Here the 10 selected innovators will have the opportunity to showcase their exceptional products, captivate the audience, and secure vital funding for their intellectual property. It’s a pivotal moment that sets the stage for their future success in the market. The Scale Up Shop program will offer sustained assistance to innovators well beyond its completion. The goal is to foster a lasting ecosystem by linking innovators with prospective investors, industry experts, and additional resources, all in order to facilitate their ongoing expansion and achievements.
Dilmah’s Quest to Restore Blue Carbon Ecosystems
What is Blue Carbon? Global warming is the result of human activity such as the use of fossil fuels to unsustainable agriculture. This in turn increases Green House Gas Emissions warming the planet and causing dangerous effects from disrupted weather patterns to rising sea levels. Forests help absorb these emissions. But did you know that ecosystems such as mangroves and seaweed forests, are up to 4 X more effective at absorbing Green House Gasses? That’s why they are also known as blue carbon sources. Investing in Blue carbon Seeing the importance of blue carbon ecosystems, Dilmah is strengthening its investments in them through two projects: Defending Mangroves and Afforest Underwater. The former is designed to restore degraded and destroyed mangrove forests while the other looks at sustainable seaweed harvesting. Interestingly both projects adopt a community participatory model. Dilmah realizes that for successful conservation efforts there must be collaboration and participation from different stakeholders and the neighbouring communities. Restoring Mangroves In restoration of mangroves, the work is concentrated in Kalpitiya under the supervision of mangrove expert Dr. Manjula Prasanna. A nursery of mangrove saplings has been nurtured and plantings are being organised at the project site at different intervals rallying different communities in the area. Apart from the Afforesting Underwater project, Dilmah has also partnered with Biodiversity Sri Lanka, Department of Wildlife of Sri Lanka and several other businesses in the task of restoring up to 25 acres of degraded mangroves in Sri Lanka’s precious Anawilundawa Wetland Sanctuary. Seaweed Harvesting Through Afforesting Underwater, Dilmah Tea is training fishermen in Mannnar, Northern Province of Sri Lanka in collaboration with the National Aquaculture Development Authority (NAQDA) to practice sustainable seaweed farming. This collaboration empowers fishermen to shift from fishing to climate-resilient seaweed farming, countering challenges like overfishing and fish migration due to warming waters. Currently at the pilot stage, the project is working with a small number of fishermen in a local community and intends to expands to other locations, based on the insights and experience gained during the lifetime of the pilot project.
The People’s Market is Back in Moratuwa!
The People’s Market is an initiative to celebrate and empower local heroes and create new opportunities specially after the COVID pandemic to meet a wider audience. Over the last year, Dilmah MJF Foundation has been able to support over 150 small entrepreneurs, including individuals with disabilities, through our markets in Colombo, Moratuwa, and Weligama. From traditional spices to handcrafted delicacies, each product represents a story of passion and dedication. By choosing these homegrown treasures, you not only savor authentic flavors but also contribute to the growth and prosperity of our local economy. GOOD NEWS: The People’s Market is Back in Moratuwa on the 26th of August 2023. Join us for an evening filled with kindness, food, music, and fun for the whole family! Date: 26 August 2023 Time: 4.00pm – 9.30pm Venue: MJF Centre Moratuwa ( Next to K-Zone Katubedda) *Parking Available
Genesis: Dilmah Centre for A Sustainable Future
An Agri Innovation Hub fostering collaboration, growth, and development for local SMEs and agri tech companies No. 52, Maligawatte Road, Colombo 10, was the birthplace of Dilmah Tea where our Founder Merrill J. Fernando created the first tea-producer-owned tea brand defying the norms of the then commoditized tea industry to focus on tea that was unblended and packed at source. This historic building has now been transformed into a hub for agri-entrepreneurs to also realise their dreams of creating a global brand. Genesis will be dedicated to sustainable agri entrepreneurship and innovation and Nature-base solutions (NBs). The initiative is positioned as a ready commitment to bridge the existing gap between new Sri Lankan agri and food innovations and their marketability and readiness for export, thus allowing local agripreneurs to soar. The Genesis Project Hub (TGP) will operate as an incubator to facilitate ideation, innovation, collaboration, growth and development of likeminded agripreneurs inclined towards Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and restorative agriculture. Nature-based solutions are actions inspired by nature that meet social and economic needs in a way that minimizes its impact on the environment and ecosystems through sustainable management or restoration of the same. Thereby when applied to the food and agri sector, Nbs will empower SMEs in the food and agri sector to become climate resilient, reduce social and economic impacts of climate change on society and validate SMEs as guardians of the environment – smallholder farmers and SMEs are more environmentally sustainable. The TGP community will link international experts in fields of agriculture, food innovation, gastronomy, marketing, product development and technology to achieve the fullest potential for their business or brand to local entrepreneurs. They will have opportunities for development and growth through capacity building, knowledge dissemination, product development, marketing and branding, networking and matchmaking. The physical space has been designed with this in mind and consists of a town hall, digital library, co-working space, boardroom and a fully equipped kitchen. Dilmah Tea, a product of nature, with an undeniable connection to nature and people; the Founder of the company has strengthened that connection by extending his business ecosystem beyond profit to make Dilmah a matter of human service. Among such efforts has been the Small Entrepreneurship Program of Dilmah Tea’s philanthropic arm The Merrill J Fernando Foundation. This has supported over 2000 entrepreneurs since 2005. The Dilmah Genesis project will adopt the model of Dilmah SEPs to support & prioritise Nature based Enterprises, setting it up as the next phase of SEPs. From recognising and mentoring innovators through platforms such as Ecovation Awards to encouraging suppliers to improve sustainability for their products and services through closed loop collaborations, Dilmah is invested in improving sustainability along the value chain for all its stakeholders. Dilmah Tea is committed to social justice and environmental conservation through its philanthropic arm The Merrill J. Fernando Foundation and its environmental sustainability arm Dilmah Conservation. Dilmah believes in the co-existence of human, environment, and wildlife. The design of its conservation projects in areas of green restoration, climate change adaptation and species conservation have always strived to benefit people while protecting nature and wildlife.
A Cup of Kindness Goes A Long Way
As the 1990 Suwa Seriya ambulance service has run into a Rs.1.5 billion shortfall in funds this year, a number of leading corporates have stepped up to fill the void by committing Rs.525 million up to now, to maintain the operations of the critical service uninterpreted. In light of the funding shortfall from the government, due to the economic crisis, the board of directors and management of the Suwa Seriya ambulance service recently introduced the ‘Adopt an Ambulance’ initiative to raise funds from the private sector to maintain the operations intact, with the facilitation of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. “We thought of launching this initiative to raise the shortfall, instead of burdening the government or shutting down the number of ambulances that we operate,” 1990 Suwa Seriya ambulance service Chairman Dumindra Ratnayaka told reporters in Colombo this week. Accordingly, a number of top corporates have come forward in committing Rs.525 million in funds so far, adopting 105 ambulances. “It’s just amazing. It is also an endorsement that we, at 1990, are doing it right. It is also an encouragement to continue to do what we do at our best,” Ratnayake said. By pledging a Rs.5 million per one 1990 ambulance per annum to support the maintenance cost of the valuable service, the private sector has ensured the continuity of emergency medical care to the public. Ratnayaka was optimistic of meeting the balance Rs.1 billion shortfall in funds through the private sector for the year. Further, he noted that the initiative would extend to next year, if the funding shortfalls continue to arise. The service operates a fleet of 297 ambulances equipped with the necessary emergency medical equipment and staffed by trained personnel. The maintenance funding allows the ambulance service to operate its full fleet by conducting vehicle and medical equipment maintenance, staff uniforms and safety gear upkeep and conducting continuous training to the staff. The Suwa Seriya ambulance service was launched in 2016 as a donation from the Indian government. It was then regularised as a government service through Suwa Seriya Act No 18 of 2018. Since then, it has built up a national service footprint and handled over 1.4 million emergencies. Over 1000 calls are attended to daily, making it an essential lifeline for patients islandwide.