Chinese growers tour Australia to learn from local farmers
Syngenta
  • Leading Chinese growers will tour Australia this week, meeting local farmers and leading industry experts.
  • Australian growers are on the cutting edge of research and development and are uniquely positioned to provide a greater understanding of the value chain of products.
  • The tour comes immediately after the landmark China-Australia Fair Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) was signed this week.

Chinese growers will tour through New South Wales and South Australia this week, meeting with local farmers and leading industry experts as part of a Connections program, designed to showcase the best local farming practices, internationally.

The Connections program, supported by leading agribusiness Syngenta, comes after the landmark China-Australia Fair Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) was signed this week.

According to Paul Luxton, Syngenta Territory Head, Australasia, the Connections program, long ingrained in Syngenta, brings together the best of the hosting and touring countries.

“We are delighted to host four leading Chinese vegetable growers, all recognised for their outstanding contribution to agriculture in China,” Mr Luxton said.

“Australian growers are on the cutting edge of research and development and show incredible resilience under difficult conditions. We we are uniquely positioned to provide a greater understanding of the value chain of products.

“Connections provides an opportunity to share our technological developments and our smart approach to agriculture.”

Through the Connections program, visiting growers have the opportunity to meet with leading industry experts to gain a greater understanding of the Australian agriculture. This Connections program will focus on the technology and practice of green houses, with emphasis on tomatoes, melons and peppers, at the growing stage.

The Chinese will meet with Mick Keogh, Executive Director of the Australian Farm Institute, and Jordan Brooke-Barnett, State Manager AusVeg South Australia.

Other highlights from the Chinese growers week-long visit include field excursions to one of Australia’s most advanced and high-tech glasshouses, D’Vine Ripe, in South Australia, along with meetings with vegetable packers and key horticultural retailer, Ace Ohlsson.

The four Chinese growers are from the Hebei Vegetable Grower Club, a non-government organization (NGO), consisting of 10,000 members and promoting sustainable agriculture technology to vegetable growers located in the Hebei province.

  • Sun Qian is the Vice-Chairman of Hebei Vegetables, and had a pioneering role in vegetable production. She was honoured by an MoA by the Department of CPC.
  • Hao Zhengyu has 18 years’ experience in growing tomatoes, melons and peppers. In 2013, he took a leading role in a local cooperative.
  • Zhang Shangqin is the executor of SAERCDF a sustainable project, and implementer of AMISTAR trial in vegetables.
  • Zhao Chunnian is the Station Director of Vegetables, based in the Raoyang county.

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For more information, please contact Kate White on 0418 254 296. 

Syngenta is one of the world's leading companies with more than 28,000 employees in over 90 countries dedicated to our purpose: Bringing plant potential to life. Through world-class science, global reach and commitment to our customers we help to increase crop productivity, protect the environment and improve health and quality of life. For more information about us please go to www.syngenta.com.au.