The TUI Care Foundation’s new Field to Fork programme is all about supporting one of the most important economic sectors on our planet - farming and food production.

It focuses on helping farming communities transition to more sustainable and regenerative practices, which maintain and improve biodiversity and produce local and cultural delicacies. These practices are vital to retaining the beauty of the natural landscape and to reducing industrial agriculture CO2 emissions, which are a major driver of global emissions. The programme also helps to create better income opportunities for farmers and local producers by linking them with hotels and resorts and creating shorter supply chains for their sustainable products, which preserve and represent the rich traditions and food culture of a destination.

It's really difficult to grow fresh produce in some areas of the world and farmers in the Cape Verde islands know this all too well. A lack of fertile soil means that growing crops is extremely challenging and the population depends on imported cereals, fruit and vegetables. So, on the island of Sal, we’ve launched a three year programme to help provide fresh produce to local people.

We’re working in partnership with Milot Hydroponics, a horticultural company which uses hydroponic techniques to grow crops without using soil. The project focuses on growing organic carrots, beetroot and lettuces as well as avocados, mangoes, limes and bananas. It will help to build and strengthen the capacity of the supplier and also increase wages and provide staff training.

Being able to buy home grown fruit and vegetables will make a big difference to the local community in Sal and it’s good to know that the Field to Fork programme will help to make this happen.