Dilmah Tea and its MJF Charitable Foundation partner with the Aussie Sri Lankan social enterprise Plate It Forward to bring sustainable agriculture and nutrition to rural communities in Sri Lanka.
Dilmah Tea is beloved not only for its promise of pure Ceylon Tea but its consistent commitment towards serving humanity and the planet through its MJF Charitable Foundation and Dilmah Conservation. When Dilmah’s CEO and Chairman Dilhan C. Fernando met Sri Lankan-Australian social enterprise advocate Shaun Christie-David, the Founder of ‘Plate it Forward’, the idea for a friendship built on kindness and a mutual passion for serving community and the environment was born - Harvest2.
What makes this different from a typical school nutrition initiative is that it envisages a perfect circle connecting small farmers, with parent led school societies where produce will be cooked for students. The project builds on Dilmah’s Small Entrepreneur Programme to support farmers, who supply their produce to schools which will be equipped and funded to cook daily midday meals for less fortunate children. The project aims to address nutritional deficiencies which impact the children’s ability to learn. Dilmah will additionally implement environmental education, vegetable gardens and biogas plants in each of the schools to help students understand their natural ecosystem and its services.
Hence the name - Harvest2 – better livelihoods for small farmers in the economically weak East of Sri Lanka, and a better future for the children of less fortunate communities. The project will create a symbiotic relationship between farmers and students for better agricultural livelihoods, student well being, and environmental education.
Strengthening the Fabric of Rural Livelihoods in the East
Sri Lanka’s Eastern Province is a surfer’s paradise and home to beautiful beaches, wildlife and a melting pot of cultural diversity and vibrance. It is also a slow developing region that acts as the country's granary, with a heavy dependence on agriculture leaving gaps in the development of literacy, education and poverty.
Over the course of this 12-month pilot and expansion, Harvest2 will serve more than 2,700 students in the East, ensuring that hunger never stands in the way of every child’s potential to learn and grow.
The MJF Foundation will be employing its existing Sustainable Empowerment Programme (SEP) to establish direct and transparent supply chains between local smallholder farmers and institutional buyers - specifically, the kitchens of 23 rural schools. SEP was established by the MJF Foundation supporting budding micro and small entrepreneurs to build their businesses – many of whom are agricultural entrepreneurs in the East. By sourcing rice, vegetables, and fruit directly from these farming families, Harvest2 provides a guaranteed income and elevates community standing for the producers.
“Harvest2 builds on the natural synergy in supporting small farmers, connecting them directly with a market in the parent led School Development Societies, for the benefit of students. The sustainability and environmental education features are critical to the model, helping schools to build future leaders who understand solutions to the climate emergency, and the potential in the economically challenged region.” explained Fernando.
Nourishing the Leaders of Tomorrow
The educational impact of Harvest2 is both immediate and profound, addressing a critical gap in the national nutritional framework. While Sri Lankan government funding currently supports meals for students upto 10 years of age, many high school students in rural zones lack adequate nutrition. Harvest2 aims to bridge this gap, funding essential meals for older students across four educational zones while bolstering primary school programmes.
A Living Classroom for Environmental Stewardship
Beyond the plate, Harvest2 transforms school grounds into vibrant hubs of ecological learning and restoration. Each participating school serves as a demonstration site for organic food production and native ecosystem preservation. Engaging initiatives like an Organic Garden Competition encourage school children to get hands-on with everything from sub-surface plant biology in dedicated yam areas to the cultivation of nutrient-dense leafy greens and seasonal fruits.
These gardens are complemented by the installation of clean and renewable energy, including biogas units in every cluster kitchen, which turn organic waste into renewable energy while demonstrating the power of closed-loop systems.
Restoring Nature Through Daily Education
The commitment to the planet is woven into the daily rhythm of school life through the establishment of mini arboretums and productive fruit orchards. These sites feature native dry-zone forest species, acting as living libraries for biodiversity and conservation. Nature Appreciation Clubs and field visits to Dilmah Conservation’s One Earth centre in Moratuwa, will give students an immersing learning experience of Sri Lanka’s only urban jungle, equipping them with the skills of responsible land stewardship. “By integrating native planting and ecosystem restoration into the curriculum, Harvest2 ensures that the next generation of Sri Lankans are not just observers of nature, but its most dedicated custodians,” said Fernando.
Harvest2 is especially close to the hearts of the Dilmah Family as it is connected with Kindness Day 2026, a celebration of the legacy of Dilmah Founder Merrill J. Fernando through expressions of kindness on the anniversary of his birthday, on May 6th.
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About Dilmah's initiatives with Humanity & Nature
Founded by Merrill J. Fernando on a commitment to making business a matter of human service, Dilmah is a family-owned tea company dedicated to quality, ethics, and the protection of the environment and community empowerment. The MJF Charitable Foundation and Dilmah Conservation represent the fulfillment of that commitment, directing a minimum of 15% pre-tax profits of all Dilmah towards the humanitarian and conservation work.
Plate It Forward is a Sydney-based social enterprise that uses the power of food to provide social snacks, employment, and training to marginalised communities. Through their award-winning restaurants and community programmes, they strive to eliminate food insecurity and create lasting social change.
