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World Food Day 2024: MTO's Commitment to Food Security and Sustainability

Women delighted with crop harvest from MTO Group's food security programmes

As we mark World Food Day on 16 October, we are reminded that access to food is a universal human right. Yet, recent statistics show that over 800 million people globally go to bed hungry each night.


In South Africa, up to 20 million people are severely food insecure, with 27% of children under the age of five suffering from malnutrition and stunting.

We all play a vital role in fighting hunger and malnutrition, working together to build sustainable, food-secure communities.

Community members tending to food gardens

What is the MTO Group Doing to Improve Food Security?

In 2019, we launched a programme - which started with 35 food gardens - in communities neighbouring our business locations,  with the ultimate aim of ensuring that nobody goes to bed hungry and no child is malnourished.


Today, five years later, we’ve reached a milestone of 1,000 food gardens across our Cape and Mpumalanga regions, including; Tsitsikamma, Karatara, Riversdale, Jonkershoek, White River, Barberton, Hazyview, and Bushbuckridge.


Our efforts are making a positive impact on over 5,000 vulnerable families.


Community member tending to food garden with spade


Large spinach bundle from community food garden harvest

In collaboration with government partners, we provide seedlings and technical skills to households, schools, Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers, clinics, and community associations. The dry pieces of land are soon turned into an oasis of hope and life, helping to uplift fellow community members.


Empowering Communities Through Sustainable Gardening

Participants in our programme, like Lucy Hlela, a 67-year-old resident of Mandela Park, Tsitsikamma, are not just growing their own food—they are growing opportunities.


Lucy shares:

"My name is Lucy Hlela, and I am 67 years old. I live in Mandela Park, Tsitsikamma. I started my garden from scratch, using knowledge I gained from a crop production training. My garden now attracts attention from everyone passing by, even local agricultural professionals stop to take photos and offer advice. This garden keeps me fit and active for my age, and I no longer have to buy veggies—instead, I sell them to my community."
Lucy Hlela's vegetable garden in Tsitsikamma

The food gardens not only provide nutrition but also offer a source of income as community members sell their surplus vegetables to local residents and retailers, further supporting the wider community.


At MTO, our primary objective is to create a holistic and sustainable impact on our communities.




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