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.
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 and operational decisions, while championing the farming community and encouraging cooperation across the wider industry.
The Growth Awards are presented by Syngenta in partnership with Case IH and Fairfax Agricultural Media. They aim to recognise leading agricultural professionals, highlighting their outstanding contributions to the industry across three award categories: Productivity, Sustainability and Community and People.
SA Regional Winners:
- Naresh Singh: Head Grower, D’VineRipe, Virginia
Productivity: Naresh is leading one of the largest active greenhouse growing facilities in Australia and New Zealand. He has achieved best-in-world yield from specialty tomato varieties, including Perino, Sweetelle, Kumato grape and large truss Komeet.
- Peter Boutsalis: Researcher, University of Adelaide – weeds research group, Owner, Plant Science Consulting, Prospect
Sustainability: Peter pioneered the use of the “Quick Test” for establishing resistance status and has been involved in the SA Resistance Weed surveys to quantify and manage local industry issues. He is especially interested in researching best use of pre-emergent herbicide to allow the continuation of direct drill and stubble retention with the associated environmental benefits.
- Richard Porter: Managing Director, AgXtra, Newton
Community and People: Richard aims to be a leader in R&D for agricultural industry partners and staff, providing high quality contract agricultural R&D services. A major strength of his business is its supportive culture, as focus is put not just on training staff but providing opportunities and career development.
- Randall Wilksch: Owner, Wilksch Agriculture, Yeelanna
Sustainability: Randall Wilksch lives and works on his 3,650 ha family farm. He continually works to employ new tools and management practices to improve the productivity and sustainability of his farming operation. Randall has been focusing on sustainable practices since the 1970’s and has employed technology and methodology to support this.
Next stage of the Awards
The top 25 have been chosen based on a rigorous selection criteria for each category and will advance to the next stage of the Awards. Australasian winners will be announced at the Growth Awards gala dinner.
