IEAT: I LEARN, I GROW, I EAT 2024

Background

Ensuring food security entails maintaining constant access to an adequate supply of food that fulfills both nutritional requirements and supports a productive and healthy lifestyle.

On a global scale, food security remains a pressing concern, and Trinidad and Tobago faces various challenges on the path to becoming a food-secure nation. Our initiative aims to foster the cultivation of food and stimulate entrepreneurial spirit in agriculture, particularly among primary and secondary school students. By involving them in hands-on projects, we encourage teamwork, collaboration, and a sense of shared responsibility to address the multifaceted issues associated with achieving food security.

Competition Information

This competition is in harmony with the objectives set forth in the Vision 2030 National Development Strategy (2016-2030), specifically addressing the imperative of overcoming national challenges in the realms of Food Security and Sustainability. It also aligns with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 2: Zero Hunger.

The competition is also aligned with the Ministry of Education’s policies as follows:“

  • The Ministry of Education is committed to achieving its mandate of building the human resource capacity of Trinidad and Tobago, in pursuit of sustainable national development. (Ministry of Education’s Education Policy Paper 2017 to 2022, Page 11)
  • Education Goal #3: Quality Education Provided at all Levels: Strategic Objective iii: To ensure programmes are relevant and responsive to meet sustainable national development goals.

Competition Goal

Ensuring food security is of paramount importance, driven by the necessity to establish the capacity for the nation to domestically produce a substantial portion of its consumed food through sustainable agricultural practices.

  • To encourage the growth of food and the promotion of innovation and entrepreneurship in agriculture, at the primary school level. 
  • To promote skill development among students in the area of agriculture
  • To promote World Food Day which is observed on October 16th annually.

Target Audience/Beneficiaries

This competition is a school competition and will be open to all primary and secondary schools in Trinidad and Tobago.

Competition Requirements: Primary Schools

The competition would involve the growing of a kitchen garden, the creation of one innovative product and two value-added products derived from the garden, and the submission of an accompanying portfolio, that would be used to record activities from planning to submitting the final product. The school will be asked to set up a display of work done

Competition Requirements: Secondary Schools

The competition would involve the growing of a kitchen garden, the creation of two to three products derived from the garden, and the submission of an accompanying portfolio, that would be used to record activities from planning to submitting the final product. The school will be asked to set up a display of work done. Additionally, selected secondary schools would be able to participate in a cooking competition that targets Food Nutrition and Health and Commercial Food Preparation students. Secondary schools may enter the garden and product category or the garden and product garden and cooking category but NOT the cooking category only.

Competition Guidelines

  • Schools can register for the competition using this Microsoft Forms .Schools can submit one entry per school.
  • Deadline date for Registration April 12th 2024.
  • Primary Schools should have a kitchen garden, at least one innovative product and two value-added products per school.
  • Secondary Schools should have a kitchen garden, at least one innovative product and two value-added products per school.
  • Pre-Judging: schools will be visited by representatives of the Curriculum District Team during March 2024.
  • Final Judging: The schools’ garden and displays which include products and class portfolios will be judged in May 2024. Schools will be visited by representatives of the Curriculum District Teams.
  • Final Judging of Cooking Competition: To be judged by a panel in May 2024
  • School portfolios should reflect activities completed by students.
  • Winners are to be identified and prizes are to be awarded in October 2024 to coincide with World Food Day 2024.
  • Products must be sealed and submitted for final judging by a panel
  • Cook-off Competition
  • Each participating secondary school in the kitchen garden competition can register one (1) group only for the cook-off competition
  • Group size for the cook-off competition should be 3 – 4 students.
  • Students will be pre-judged at their school in the preparation and serving of an interesting (creative and original), nutritious, breakfast item utilizing products from the kitchen garden or the value added product created.
  • The recipe for the breakfast item must be presented.
  • The top five schools will be selected to participate in a live final cook-off.
  • Student submissions should be completed utilizing the portfolio template document (Portfolio Template).  Portfolios should reflect activities completed by students in the development of the project.  

Rubrics

Submissions

Upload format: Schools are to follow the portfolio development template and convert the document to PDF and send via email to the email address provided below: 

File name: Name of school.Level.IEAT24 

For Example: SunnyhillGovtPrimary.Infants.IEAT24

Please send PDFs to the following email address: nicola.dwarika@moe.gov.tt

Timeframe

  • Academic School Year 2023/2024 Term 2/3  
  • February, 2024 – May, 2024

Results

📢🏆 The IEAT 2024 Prize-Giving Ceremony was a celebration of innovation in agriculture!

Dr. the Honourable Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Minister of Education, along with Ministry officials, joined Mr. Edmond Thompson, Vice President and Managing Director of Nutrien Trinidad, and other senior representatives at the event held on February 24, 2025, at Nutrien Trinidad.

💰✨ Over $45,000 in prizes and trophies were awarded to thirteen winning schools across primary and secondary categories. Students proudly showcased their agricultural products, reinforcing the importance of agriculture in national development.

🏅 Top Winners 🏅

🌱 Primary Schools

🥇 Tunapuna Hindu Primary School

🥈 Cap de Ville Government Primary School (Best Kitchen Garden)

🥉 Siparia Road Presbyterian Primary School

🌾 Secondary Schools

🥇 Preysal Secondary (Best Kitchen Garden)

🥈 Parvati Girls Hindu College

🥉 Morvant Laventille Secondary

🏝️ Tobago Champions

🥇 Signal Hill Government Primary School

🥇 Roxborough Secondary School

🌟 Special Awards 🌟

🎨 Most Creative and Marketing of Product – Naparima College

💡 Most Original and Innovative Product – Navet Presbyterian

🔹 The Nutrien Perseverance Award – Lady Hochoy Home Penal

🌱 The Nutrien Seedling Stars Award – Little Jewels ECCE Tobago

✨ Most Original Value-Added Product – San Fernando Seventh Day Adventist Primary School

Minister Gadsby-Dolly highlighted how the IEAT Competition fosters youth engagement in agriculture, a key pillar of national growth. The Ministry of Education proudly partners with Nutrien Trinidad each year to empower students with hands-on agricultural experience.

🚜🌎 The future of agriculture is bright! Congratulations to all the winners!