An Agri Innovation Hub fostering collaboration, growth, and development for local SMEs and agri tech companies
No. 52, Maligawatte Road, Colombo 10, was the birthplace of Dilmah Tea where our Founder Merrill J. Fernando created the first tea-producer-owned tea brand defying the norms of the then commoditized tea industry to focus on tea that was unblended and packed at source. This historic building has now been transformed into a hub for agri-entrepreneurs to also realise their dreams of creating a global brand.
Genesis will be dedicated to sustainable agri entrepreneurship and innovation and Nature-base solutions (NBs). The initiative is positioned as a ready commitment to bridge the existing gap between new Sri Lankan agri and food innovations and their marketability and readiness for export, thus allowing local agripreneurs to soar.
The Genesis Project Hub (TGP) will operate as an incubator to facilitate ideation, innovation, collaboration, growth and development of likeminded agripreneurs inclined towards Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and restorative agriculture. Nature-based solutions are actions inspired by nature that meet social and economic needs in a way that minimizes its impact on the environment and ecosystems through sustainable management or restoration of the same. Thereby when applied to the food and agri sector, Nbs will empower SMEs in the food and agri sector to become climate resilient, reduce social and economic impacts of climate change on society and validate SMEs as guardians of the environment – smallholder farmers and SMEs are more environmentally sustainable.
The TGP community will link international experts in fields of agriculture, food innovation, gastronomy, marketing, product development and technology to achieve the fullest potential for their business or brand to local entrepreneurs. They will have opportunities for development and growth through capacity building, knowledge dissemination, product development, marketing and branding, networking and matchmaking. The physical space has been designed with this in mind and consists of a town hall, digital library, co-working space, boardroom and a fully equipped kitchen.
Dilmah Tea, a product of nature, with an undeniable connection to nature and people; the Founder of the company has strengthened that connection by extending his business ecosystem beyond profit to make Dilmah a matter of human service. Among such efforts has been the Small Entrepreneurship Program of Dilmah Tea’s philanthropic arm The Merrill J Fernando Foundation. This has supported over 2000 entrepreneurs since 2005. The Dilmah Genesis project will adopt the model of Dilmah SEPs to support & prioritise Nature based Enterprises, setting it up as the next phase of SEPs. From recognising and mentoring innovators through platforms such as Ecovation Awards to encouraging suppliers to improve sustainability for their products and services through closed loop collaborations, Dilmah is invested in improving sustainability along the value chain for all its stakeholders.
Dilmah Tea is committed to social justice and environmental conservation through its philanthropic arm The Merrill J. Fernando Foundation and its environmental sustainability arm Dilmah Conservation. Dilmah believes in the co-existence of human, environment, and wildlife. The design of its conservation projects in areas of green restoration, climate change adaptation and species conservation have always strived to benefit people while protecting nature and wildlife.
