This was according to Grain SA CEO Jannie de Villiers. Speaking at the 2014 Syngenta Grain Academy certificate ceremony in Bloemfontein, De Villiers said the strategic initiative by Syngenta was a much-needed investment that would shape the future landscape of the agricultural sector.
The company developed a leadership programme for commercial grain producers in conjunction with the University of the Free State (UFS) business school in 2013. “The establishment of a Grain Academy is in line with Grain SA’s strategic objectives, and we’re excited to partner with Syngenta on delivering on this project. The future of sustainable production lies in our competitiveness and it can only be improved with ongoing training,” said De Villiers.
To successfully complete the course, students were expected to address a relevant and actual agricultural challenge. The findings were presented to an audience of industry leaders and stakeholders as well as UFS faculty representatives at the business school on 20 June.
The presentations covered topics such as an imminent water crisis in South Africa, the state of the local agricultural sector and the utilisation of communal land to improve food security.
