Leading growers and agronomists awarded for commitment to farming’s future
Syngenta
  • Ten leading growers and agronomists have been recognised for their contribution to Australasian farming as part of the Syngenta Growth Awards.
  • The Growth Awards dinner saw 80 agribusiness leaders and industry representatives come together on Thursday 11 December.
  • Winners now have the opportunity to tour the UK and Europe in 2015.

Leading growers and agronomists have been recognised for their outstanding contribution to farming in Australia and New Zealand as part of the inaugural Syngenta Growth Awards.

The Growth Awards recognise individual achievements in agricultural productivity, sustainability, and commitment to community and people.

The 10 winners, announced at a gala dinner in Sydney overnight, were selected from a group of 25 high-calibre finalists from across Australia and New Zealand. Finalists were judged by an expert panel including representatives from the Australian Farm Institute, Sefton & Associates, Rimfire Resources and WWF – Australia.

According to Paul Luxton, Syngenta Territory Head, Australasia, the winners demonstrate the breadth of local innovation and agribusiness leadership throughout Australasia.

“All 10 winners aspire to make agriculture a viable industry for their families and communities,” Mr Luxton said. “They are all committed to making a difference in their community and in the agricultural industry as a whole. In this way, they are ensuring the region’s food security for the future.”

Winners were selected based on a number of criteria including the growers’ and agronomists’ ability to help their peers either individually or as a community, as well as their ability to encourage safe on-farm practices.

The 2014 Syngenta Growth Awards winners are:

Productivity

  • Grower Productivity Award: Matt Hood, Lockyer Valley, Queensland.
  • Agronomist Productivity Award: Tim Condon, Harden, New South Wales.

Sustainability

  • Grower Sustainability Award: Andrew Pursehouse, Breeza, New South Wales.
  • Agronomist Sustainability Award: David Stead, York, Western Australia,

Community and People

  • Grower Community and People Award: Adam Campbell, Corack, Victoria
  • Agronomist Community and People Award: Ian Crosthwaite, Kingaroy, Queensland

Also recognised on the night for innovation and leadership in Australasian agribusiness are the following growers and agronomists who received a “Judges’ Choice” Award:

  • David Pfeiffer (agronomist), Perth, Western Australia
  • Rob Hart (grower), Old Junee, New South Wales
  • Ross Hewson (grower), Chertsey, Ashburton, New Zealand

Mick Broad, a South Australian agronomist, was recognised for his work in sustainable production with the Case IH Award.

Winners now have the opportunity to tour the UK and Europe in 2015, to gain an insight into different farming practices and global food production challenges.

The Awards dinner saw 80 agribusiness leaders and industry representatives come together to celebrate the local and broader impact all the nominees have made.

The Awards support The Good Growth Plan, which was launched by Syngenta late last year, with the goal to make a lasting and positive impact on the farmers and rural communities who provide the world’s food security and support the long-term sustainability of our planet.

For more information, or to interview one of the 10 winners, please contact Kate White +61 418 254 296.

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About The Good Growth Plan

The Good Growth Plan includes specific commitments to address critical challenges the world faces in feeding a growing population. By 2020, we commit to:

  • Make crops more efficient: Increase the average productivity of the world's major crops by 20 per cent without using more land, water or inputs.
  • Rescue more farmland: Improve the fertility of 10 million hectares of farmland on the brink of degradation.
  • Help biodiversity flourish: Enhance biodiversity on 5m hectares of farmland
  • Empower smallholders: Reach 20 million smallholders and enable them to increase productivity by 50 per cent.
  • Help people stay safe: Train 20 million farm workers on labour safety, especially in developing countries.
  • Look after every worker: Strive for fair labour conditions throughout our entire supply chain network

You can find out more about The Good Growth Plan at www.goodgrowthplan.com.

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.