The strong and positive agri-story that emerged from the Covid pandemic is a foundation for change, was the message that Syngenta’s managing director, Antonie Delport had for the young agriculturists who had graduated from the Leadership in Agriculture Academy programme in 2020 and 2021.
The class of 2020 completed the programme last year, but Covid-19 restrictions prevented the students from receiving their certificates and to graduate at the time. This year’s combined graduation event was attended by 43 candidates as well as partners of the Leadership Academy programme and industry stakeholders.
Now in its ninth year, the Leadership Academy for Agriculture is hosted by Syngenta. The programme is presented by Thinking Fusion Africa in partnership with the Northwest University Business School, and with the support of Grain SA.
In his address, Delport asserted that farmers in Africa are in the right place at the right time. He noted that around 40% of Africans are employed in agriculture and the continent is home to 60% of the world’s arable land. Yet, Africa imports about 60% of its food needs, at a cost of approximately USD40 billion (R607 billion) per year. What is more, the average African farmer performs at only around 40% of his or her potential. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the amount of maize and other cereal crops harvested per hectare in Africa is less than half the global average.
“These are not the hallmarks of a sustainable food system,” Delport rightly commented as he urged the Leadership Academy graduates to step up to the challenge of transforming agriculture in our country and our continent. “Technology, partnerships and effective leadership are the trio that will advance our industry,” he said.
The impact of Syngenta’s leadership development programme was illustrated in a short address by Jan Teubes, a wine farmer from Vredendal in the Western Cape. In addition to three examples of mutually beneficial contracts he negotiated in the last year by implementing effective communication and systems thinking principles, Teubes emphasised the improved personal and professional relationships that resulted from his newly acquired skills and insights. “Thanks to this programme, the farming business I run with my brother is thriving despite challenging times for the wine industry,” he says.
“Leadership development is a personal journey, and the portfolios of evidence that the candidates submitted show that they have not only internalised the learning, but went back and applied it,” said Professor René Uys from Thinking Fusion Africa. “Judging from their portfolios, we can expect tremendous impact from these young leaders.”
As part of the certification ceremony, Thinking Fusion Africa presented awards of recognition to Syngenta’s Delport and Jannie de Villiers, former CEO of Grain SA, in acknowledgement of their contributions to the advancement of leadership in agriculture.
Over the past nine years, 193 commercial and emerging farmers and people in agri-related professions – ranging from economists and analysts to entrepreneurs and academics – have completed the Leadership Academy programme.
