Leading with collaboration and innovation: Steve Marafiote wins 2026 Syngenta Grower of the Year
At the helm of one of Australia's most technically advanced growing operations, Steve Marafiote has built Sundrop Farms into a national leader in high-tech protected cropping. He is now also the recipient of the 2026 Syngenta Grower of the Year award, presented as part of the AUSVEG Awards for Excellence at Hort Connections 2026.
Steve was chosen from an outstanding group of finalists, recognised for his exceptional contribution to horticulture – both within his business and across the broader industry. Syngenta ANZ Managing Director David Van Ryswyk spoke to the quality of this year's field.
"Any one of these finalists would be deserving of this award. I am inspired by their individual successes, their resourcefulness, and their passion for innovation - qualities that will keep our industry strong,"
"Steve exemplifies what it means to be a modern grower: commercially sharp, deeply collaborative, and genuinely committed to driving the sector forward."
A business built on technology and trust
Sundrop Farms, headquartered in Port Augusta, South Australia, is one of Australia's most recognised protected cropping enterprises. Under Steve's leadership as Chief Executive Officer and part-owner, the business has grown into a major national supplier of greenhouse produce – including truss tomatoes, baby plum tomatoes, heirloom varieties, and specialty lines – supplying major supermarkets and fresh produce partners across the country. This commercial success is built on a foundation of close, collaborative supply chain relationships.
What sets Steve apart is his ability to bring together two worlds that don't always sit comfortably side by side: rigorous corporate management and the fast-moving, decision-heavy realities of fresh produce. Drawing on his experience leading multiple fresh produce businesses, he has built a strong, diverse, and multi-disciplined team at Sundrop that operates with both commercial discipline and grower instinct.
Ged Sippel, Syngenta Business Unit Head for Vegetable Seeds across Japan, Korea, and Australia, said Steve was a thoroughly deserving winner.
"Steve and the Sundrop Farms team represent the best of what Australian horticulture can achieve when leadership, innovation, and collaboration come together,"
"Their willingness to look beyond borders for the best technologies, varieties, and practices - and then bring that knowledge back to benefit the whole sector - is what makes them truly outstanding."
Innovation in the field and beyond
Steve's tenure at Sundrop Farms has been marked by a consistent drive to push the boundaries of what's possible in protected cropping. The business has delivered several standout product innovations, including a highly successful heirloom tomato range, with new varieties continually trialled and brought to market.
The business takes an outward-looking approach to innovation – actively seeking international best practice in technology, varieties, and packaging – and brings those learnings back into its South Australian operations.
That collaborative instinct extends well beyond the farm gate. When the ToBRFV (Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus) outbreak threatened the protected cropping industry, Sundrop Farms stepped forward early. Steve and his senior leadership team were among the first in the greenhouse sector to achieve Pest Free Place of Residence certification and actively shared their findings with government and industry peers to help manage the broader response. It was a defining moment – a business choosing transparency and collective action over competitive advantage.
A voice for the sector
Steve's influence reaches well beyond Sundrop's operations. He has served on prominent industry and government advisory boards, including South Australia's Premier's Food Council, where his expertise in protected cropping and commercial horticulture has been consistently valued.
At both state and national level, he is regarded as a credible, thoughtful voice for the protected cropping sector - someone who engages constructively with government, industry bodies, and supply chain partners alike.
We congratulate Steve and Sundrop Farms again for taking out the 2026 Grower of the Year award!
2026 Syngenta Grower of the Year Finalists
Steve Marafiote was selected from an exceptional group of growers across Australia:
Brent Reeve – Redland Fruit
Craig Van Rooyen – Van Rooyen Group
Fabian Guidotto – Gino's Nursery
Jane Vassallo – Gourmet Herbs
Joe Trimboli – GTS Farms
Mario Casotti – Casotti Group
Scott Stevenson – AJ & AM Stevenson
Stephane Frichot – Center West Exports
Val Micallef – Alandale Produce
The Syngenta Grower of the Year award recognises outstanding achievement across productivity, sustainability, innovation, and industry contribution. It is presented annually as part of the AUSVEG National Awards for Excellence.
