Stanbic Bank Botswana has launched Blue Roots, a sustainability initiative that will see 5,000 trees planted across Botswana in 2026, kicking off a three-year rollout aligned to the Bank’s Kgolo strategy. The launch, held at the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and a ceremonial tree planting, formalising a working partnership focused on agriculture, research and enterprise development.
Blue Roots is designed as a client-linked platform, enabling businesses to participate directly in tree planting and ecosystem restoration, while unlocking opportunities in food production, carbon value and sustainable enterprise. Stanbic Bank Botswana has set a target of planting 22,500 trees by 2028, with a phased rollout of 5,000 trees in 2026, 7,500 in 2027 and 10,000 in 2028. The initiative forms part of the Bank’s broader Kgolo strategy (2026–2028), which prioritises growth that is both economically inclusive and environmentally sustainable.
The partnership with BUAN builds on work that began in 2023, where the Bank financed the establishment of a 2,470-tree fruit orchard to support the University’s commercialisation efforts, research programmes and student training. The orchard includes a mix of Valencia oranges, mangoes, naartjies, seedless crimson grapes, peaches and litchis, contributing to both food production and applied agricultural learning.
Speaking at the launch, Stanbic Bank Botswana Head, Risk Mmmoloki Letshwao said, “Blue Roots is how new strategy Kgolo shows up in the real economy. It connects our clients to practical opportunities in agriculture, sustainability and new revenue streams, while strengthening the ecosystems that those same businesses depend on.”
Beyond tree planting, Blue Roots will scale into a nationwide restoration programme, supporting watershed rehabilitation, biodiversity protection and the recovery of degraded land. The model is designed to integrate environmental outcomes with economic participation, positioning clients as active contributors to restoration while benefiting from emerging carbon and sustainability-linked opportunities.
For BUAN, the partnership strengthens its role as a hub for agricultural innovation and skills development, with direct benefits for students, researchers and the wider public through increased access to practical, income-generating agricultural systems.
As part of its execution, Blue Roots will prioritise:
- Expansion of fruit tree production to support food security and agro-enterprise
- Development of client-linked carbon offset and sustainability projects
- Restoration of key ecological areas in collaboration with local partners
- Creation of income-generating opportunities within community ecosystems
Through Blue Roots, Stanbic Bank Botswana is positioning sustainability as a practical growth lever within Kgolo, linking finance, food systems, and environmental restoration into a single, scalable platform
