Twenty-five of the most outstanding growers and advisers from across Australia and New Zealand have been named Regional Winners in the 2016 Syngenta Growth Awards.
With mounting pressure to do more with less, the regional winners are developing innovative ways to overcome challenges of modern day farming like water availability and pest management. They are using data to make sound business decisions, while championing the farming community and encouraging cooperation across the wider industry.
Presented by Syngenta in partnership with Case IH and Fairfax Agricultural Media, the Awards recognise leading agricultural professionals, across three award categories: Productivity, Sustainability and Community and People.
NZ Regional Winners:
- Allan Fong: Director, Perfect Produce, Pukekohe
Productivity: Allan is a New Zealand-born Chinese grower, cropping over 500 acres of mixed vegetables. He has worked hard to develop his business into a high-end produce company, growing over 20 different niche varieties. Foresight, hard work and a constant focus on business productivity has earned Allan a well-known brand and reputation across the NZ restaurant and supermarket industries.
- Craig Whiteside: Owner, TA Whiteside & Co, Otago
Productivity: A third generation farmer, Craig runs a 800 ha cropping operation. He places high value in R&D and each year attempts to trial at least one new crop variety. Not afraid of a challenge, Craig has diversified his operations, and now grows up to ten different varieties for harvest each season including wheat, barley, oats and small seed.
- Howard Clarke: Managing Director/Owner, Advance Agriculture, Gore Ltd.
Productvity: Howard Clarke has a longstanding association with the New Zealand arable industry. He is passionate about providing technically sound, personalised advice to his clients. Attention to detail and a commitment to customers has seen Howard’s business grow at a rapid rate over the past 14 years, becoming a market leader.
- Tayah Ryan: Senior Technical Advisor, Fruitfed Supplies, Katikati
Sustainability: Tayah is responsible for the research and extension in New Zealand's subtropical crops, notably kiwifruit, avocados and citrus. Tayah has worked closely with industry bodies, researchers and agrichemical suppliers to help growers limit the affects of Psa-V. She travels extensively to expand her knowledge and network, and partners with various industry organisations in R&D.
Next stage of the Awards
Regional winners will advance to the next stage where seven Australasian winners will be selected and announced at the Growth Awards gala dinner in December.