News Releases

UWI commemorates Earth Day with Sustainable Seeds of Development

For Release Upon Receipt - April 21, 2022

St. Augustine


ST. AUGUSTINE, Trinidad and Tobago. Thursday 21 April 2022 – The Faculty of Food and Agriculture at the St. Augustine Campus of The University of the West Indies (UWI) is extending an open invitation to the nation to participate in its first Sustainable Seeds of Survival (SOS) Fair on Earth Day 2022, April 22nd.

From 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., the public can visit its University Field Station in Mount Hope and learn more about the importance of seed saving for food and seed security in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Commercial vegetable producers as well as backyard gardeners, seed savers and seed suppliers will be present to help initiate a movement for seed saving and seed food environmental education and awareness.

Dr Wendy Ann Isaac, Senior Lecturer, shared that the SOS Fair will introduce the public to the Faculty’s recently completed Seed Facility for seed testing and seed banking activities and showcase various diagnostic services offered by the Department of Food Production in seed testing and other related services, such as soil testing and plant disease identification. While Dean of the Faculty of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Mark Wuddivira, will speak on the theme “SOS – Reclaim our Seeds”.

As part of the day’s activities, there will be seed exchanges, seed sales and tours of the University Field Station.  For further information, Mr. Earl Medford at 753-3220; Ms. Shonelle Ali at 685-6632 or Mr. Rakesh Bhukal at 492-9187.

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About The UWI 

The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region. 

From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Open Campus, and 10 global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe. 

The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and wider world. 

Ranked among the top universities in the world, by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education, The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists. In 2020, it earned ‘Triple 1st’ rankings—topping the Caribbean; and in the top in the tables for Latin America and the Caribbean, and global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old).  The UWI is also featured among the top universities on THE’s Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Wellbeing; Gender Equality and Climate Action. 

For more, visit www.uwi.edu. 

(Please note that the proper name of the university is The University of the West Indies, inclusive of the “The”, hence The UWI.)

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