Stefan van Zyl, an agricultural economist by training, heads the Syngenta Seedcare Business in South Africa.
Stefan was born and bred on a farm, near Wolmaransstad in the western part of the summer rainfall production area. “Being born on a farm, means that I have been involved in agriculture for my entire life, which is close to 40 years.”
Stefan joined Syngenta in 2010 and as Business Manager, his responsibility is to ensure that Syngenta's Seedcare technology reaches every farmer, so they have the opportunity to farm in a sustainable, yet profitable, manner.
What he loves most about being part of Syngenta is to being able to combine new technology and innovation with his love of nature and farming.
His hope for agriculture lies in the fact that everyone needs to eat. “Agriculture is not just a “nice-to-have.” It is an essential sector that plays a critical role in the survival of humankind.”
Stefan bases his attitude to life on a poem written by Walter D. Wintle: The man who thinks he can. And it is from this poem that he also draws his inspiration and advice to the youth of the country: “Live your passion! If you are passionate about something, embrace that passion.”
Stefan is not wishing for a superpower, but longs for wisdom. “If I can have the wisdom Soloman had, that would do the trick for me! I am always looking for insight – to know the why and how. If one could come at the end of your life and then say: I have lived wisely, I think you would have had a good life.”
His family and upbringing had a meaningful influence on his life, and therefore, to him, his family is extremely important. He is not only focused on making a contribution to the agricultural sector but especially toward the lives of his children. “Before every decision I have to make, I always ask myself if the outcome would make the world a better place to live in for my daughters.”
Stefan emphasises that his wife, Nicolene, is the corner stone of the family. She is the Marketing Manager for the fertility division at Merck and together they juggle time to ensure a balanced life at home. “Our eldest daughter, Sanli, is at 8 years old an avid naturalist and chess player. Our youngest daughter, Liané (5), is the strong-willed one in the family basically bending the household according to her will.”