Syngenta Grain Academy
News Snippets

Launch of the First Leadership Program for South Africa's Growers
 
The Syngenta Grain Academy welcomed its first intake of 20 students at the University of the Free State's Business School on 26th February 2013. Both, Antonie Delport (Commercial Head of Syngenta South Africa) and Professor Jonathan Jansen (Vice Chancellor of the University of the Free State) were guest speakers at the morning launch. Antonie discussed Syngenta's global stance to the sustainability of food productivity, whilst Professor Jansen emphasised the importance of good leadership in South Africa's organised agricultural sector.
 
This innovative first for South African growers has been customised by Syngenta South Africa together with course facilitators, Thinking Fusion and the University of the Free State Business School.
 
It will enable each candidate to make a difference not only on the farm but also in the greater context of organised agriculture.
 
The aim is to help shape the future of agriculture by addressing: 

  • - The changing and interactive future of agriculture
  • - The art of leading
  • - The art and science of Systems Thinking
  • - Valuing diversity
  • - Leading and facilitating change and transformation

 
The first group of successful candidates:

  • - Bernhard Coetzer, Potchefstroom 
  • - Casper Botha, Potchefstroom 
  • - Chris Bender, Clocolan
  • - Cobus van Zyl, Bloemhof
  • - Cobus Grobbelaar, Bothaville
  • - Corné Louw, Grain South Africa, Pretoria
  • - Floyd Murray, Eastern Cape
  • - Frikkie Theron, Moorreesburg
  • - Gideon Anderson, Middelburg
  • - Graham Leslie, Harrismith
  • - Henk Prinsloo, Middelburg
  • - Herman Fouche, Potchefstroom
  • - Jean-Pieter Corver, Harrismith
  • - Joel Allem, Viljoenskroon
  • - Johan du Toit, Senwes
  • - Johan van Huyssteen, Virginia
  • - Ters Pretorius, Heilbron
  • - Theo Ferreira, Harrismith
  • - Tony da Costa, Nigel