News Releases

Buy UWI, Buy Local: UWI launches Campus Market Place

For Release Upon Receipt - April 6, 2023

St. Augustine


 

 [L-R] FFA Dean, Professor Mark Wuddivira; Pro Vice-Chancellor and Campus Principal, The UWI St. Augustine Campus, Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine and Mr Balliram Maharaj, CEO of ADM Import & Export Limited at the FFA Market place launch

 The UWI St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago. Thursday, April 6, 2023- On a sunny March Day, a new Market Place was launched at the historical Dudley Huggins Building on the St. Augustine Campus of The University of the West Indies (The UWI). This revenue-generating project supports the marketing of various produce from the Faculty of Food and Agriculture (FFA) while helping to nurture students’ entrepreneurial skills.

 Campus Principal Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine made the point that the FFA is the primary teaching and research faculty in Agriculture in Trinidad and Tobago and, in fact, is the only faculty in Agriculture across the five campuses of The University of the West Indies.

 “For more than 100 years”, she said, “Agriculture and this Faculty have been pivotal in agricultural development and food and nutrition security efforts in this country, and the region”.

 Customers to the FFA Market Place have access to safe, locally grown produce and other sustainably raised items. Available are products from the University Field Station, roof-top greenhouse and other campus facilities.  It supports a wide range of products such as UWI-milk, sustainably raised gourmet meats (quail), fish and eggs, fresh vegetables, UWI sweet corn, honey, along with other artisan and specialty items.  The market also sells ornamental plants and herbs, seedlings, seed kits, and compost. 

 Students and staff are encouraged to sell their own products in order to add an element of uniqueness and to build community identity and involvement.  All products are selected by the FFA Market Place committee, which was formed to ensure products sold are of the highest quality, integrity, and created through sustainable practices.

FFA Dean, Professor Mark Wuddivira underscored FFA’s belief in more accessible produce which allows for better connectivity with The UWI community as well as external stakeholders. 

 “Our marketplace isn't just about food - We believe that food has the power to bring people together, and we want to create a space where you can connect with others who share your passion. It’s about community building! We hope that our marketplace will become a hub of social activity, where you can meet new people, exchange ideas, and build lasting relationships,” said Professor Wuddivira. “Our marketplace is a testament to the vision and dedication of our faculty and staff members, who have worked tirelessly to create a dynamic and engaging environment that fosters creativity and innovation. We are proud to have a faculty that is not only committed to academic excellence but also to the practical application of that knowledge,” he added.

 The FFA Market Place is open to the campus community from Monday to Friday between the hours of 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, downstairs in Room A of the Dudley Huggins Building where payment can be made via both cash and Linx.

 END

 About The University of the West Indies

 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 for the past 75 years.

 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: Monain Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hillin Barbados, Five IslandsinAntigua and Barbuda and itsOpen Campus, and 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.

 The UWI has been consistently ranked among the top universities globally by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists since its debut in the rankings in 2018. In addition to its leading position in the Caribbean in the World University Rankings, it is also in the top 25 for Latin America and the Caribbean and the top 100 global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old).  The UWI is also featured among the leading 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.

 2023 marks The UWI’s 75th anniversary. The Diamond jubilee milestone themed “UWI at 75. Rooted. Ready. Rising.” features initiatives purposely designed and aligned to reflect on the past, confront the present, and articulate plans for the future of the regional University.

 Learn more at www.uwi.edu 

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