Project aligns with the company's current ESG activities, says CLO
Scientific Games – a provider of retail and digital games, technology, analytics and services to 130 lotteries in 50 countries around the globe, including nearly every North American lottery – has partnered with a Montreal non-profit organization to create an urban agricultural farm at the company's Canadian lottery instant game production facility.
La Cuisine Collective Hochelaga-Maisonneuve will build a community-inclusive, sustainable farm on Scientific Games' land. In addition to helping feed the local community, the project aligns with a broader effort by the City of Montreal to greening industrial areas. The urban farm at Scientific Games will also create jobs, offer educational workshops to schools and other organizations, and integrate a business program for adults with intellectual disabilities.
“This project with the CCHM is a leading example of social, responsible and sustainable environmental impact on the local community,” said Dena Rosenzweig, chief legal officer for Scientific Games. “The urban agricultural farm aligns with our company's current ESG activities and future plans. It's a win for all and we are honored to participate." From her role as legal department leader, Rosenzweig leads environmental, sustainability and governance programs for Scientific Games.
Fresh produce from the urban farm will go to 40 local collective kitchens and to the CCHM's community store and other organizations that sell low-cost, quality fruits and vegetables. It will also be used in food baskets distributed to single-parent families and provided to the community's most vulnerable residents.
The farm is expected to produce 10 tons of fruits and vegetables in 2022-23 and 15 tons in 2023-24. In an average year, the produce will help provide 150,000 meals and fill more than 2,600 food baskets. A greenhouse is planned for installation in 2023-24.
"The Urban Agricultural Farm at our Canadian campus in Montreal has been in the works with the CCHM for some time, and we are excited to plant the first fruit trees before winter comes and begin preparing the soil for the major planting of vegetables, small fruits and more fruit trees that will take place in the late spring," said Marc-Andre Doyon, VP of Canada for Scientific Games.
Scientific Games, which won three 2022 Communitas Awards for corporate social responsibility, has invested a significant amount in the urban farm project on its Montreal campus by donating the use of the land as well as fencing and funding for water and electricity. Additionally, the company's employees will have the opportunity to volunteer at the farm.
