Amid improved seasonal conditions, a complicated global market and a pandemic, and in the face of a changing climate, there has never been a more important time to promote leadership in agriculture, according to Syngenta's Paul Luxton, who this week announced the 26 regional winners of the 2020 Growth Awards.
The Syngenta Growth Awards recognise leading growers and farm advisers from different regions across Australia and New Zealand, showcasing their contribution to the industry.
Nominations were by invitation and the 26 regional winners will go onto the final stage of judging, with overall winners to be announced early next year.
Mr Luxton is the managing director and country head of Syngenta Australia and New Zealand and said recognising individuals who were leading the way in agriculture was vital to the future of the sector across the two countries.
"This has always been true but in 2020 it's absolutely critical," he said.
"Good practice, innovation, collaboration and simple passion for the industry is needed now more than ever."
Since its inception in 2014, the program has offered awards in productivity, sustainability and community and people categories.
This year, Syngenta has added an innovator category, to identify growers, advisers and influencers who contribute to innovation in agriculture or apply game-changing technologies.
"Innovation has always been one of the things we look for when judging the awards, because leaders are always testing new ideas and approaches, but this year we chose to go a step further and create a separate category that focuses solely on innovation," Mr Luxton said.
Anthony De leso, Thorndon Park Produce, has been running the Feed the Need education program to help university students get their foot in the door of the vegetable industry.
"It allows them to get their hands dirty and learn a little bit about what I do as a grower," said Mr De leso.
"At the end of the day, the crops that are grown under the Feed the Need program are given to the charity Foodbank."
Based on the Lower Eyre Peninsula, Nigel Myers wants to use his skills as an adviser to educate growers about new GM canola technology and its place in the fight against ryegrass resistance.
"We do a lot of ryegrass resistance testing in the business so we have shown growers what they could achieve if they did have the technology," he said.
"We find that quite exciting to be able to bring that to the market."
Recognsed in the community and people adviser category, Alex Thomas has been making waves around farm safety for several years.
She believes putting the health, safety and wellbeing of people on the agenda is agriculture's biggest challenge.
"We need to take a more holistic view of the rural ecosystem and promote not only a sustainable industry but sustainable human beings as a part of that," she said.
"We need to pick up who the key influencers are, everyone from heads of companies to rural women, to get the message across about safety on farm."
This year Mr Luxton was joined on the judging panel by Ian McConnell, Director of Beef Sustainability for Tyson Foods; Richard Heath, Executive Director of the Australian Farm Institute; Kirrily Condon, Agronomic Consultant with Grassroots Agronomy; and Brianna Casey, Chief Executive Officer of Foodbank Australia.
Nominees were asked questions designed not only to demonstrate their achievements and expertise, but to uncover their views about collaboration across the industry and big picture topics from future agricultural challenges to food security.
The 2020 regional winners
Productivity Growers: Brad Johnston, Quandialla, NSW, David Haak, Tent Hill, Qld, Simon Doolin, North Star, NSW
Productivity Advisers: Dale Abbott, Bowen, Qld, Graeme Jones, South Island, NZ, Karen Smith, Perth, WA, Paul McIntosh, NSW and Qld, Roger Blyth, Canterbury, NZ, Tim Walker, Devonport, TAS
Sustainability Growers: Adam Schreurs, Clyde, VIC, Murray Hall, Brookton, WA
Sustainability Advisers: Chris Monsour, Bowen, Qld, Chris Toohey, Albury, NSW, Denis Persley, Toowoomba, Qld, Linda Peacock, Tauranga, NZ, Nigel Myers, Lower Eyre Peninsula, SA, Stuart Grigg, Ballan, VIC
Community and People Growers: Anthony De Ieso, Adelaide, SA, Brett South, Esperance, WA, Sue Middleton, Wongan Hills, WA
Community and People Advisers: Alex Thomas, Torrens Park, SA, Grace Brennan, Dubbo, NSW, Josh McGregor, Qld and NSW
Innovator: Heath McWhirter, Griffith, NSW, Sarah Nolet, Sydney, NSW, Tanya and Rob Kitto, Geraldton, WA
For more information please visit: www.syngenta.com.au/growth-awards-2020
