NEW Zealand is represented in the 2015 Syngenta Growth Awards with four finalists.
Name: Bryan Hart
Category: Productivity
Location: Pukekohe - NZ
Profile: Bryan's formative years were spent helping out on the family farm producing kiwi fruit, potato, kumara and beef cattle.
The natural progression for him was to undertake a Bachelor of Horticultural Science at Massey University before joining the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
Since then Bryan has worked around the world in consulting roles.
He is pleased to have been nominated for a Syngenta Growth Award and, should he win, he'd welcome the opportunity to network with other successful people in the industry.
Name: David Birkett
Category: Sustainability
Location: Leeston, NZ
Profile: David is a third generation farmer on his family's property, where he has been farming for 25 years and "learning on the job".
So far the highlight of hiss career has been his ability to farm intensively while improving the environment in his area and representing arable growers' needs through his chairmanship of the Foundation of Arable Research.
David grows up to 12 crops in his rotation program allowing him to maintain ground fertility and structure while using an array of pest control techniques.
His nomination for the 2015 Syngenta Growth Awards recognises his achievements in this area.
Name: Lachlan McKay
Category: Sustainability
Location: Hastings NZ
Profile: Lachlan McKay is a fourth generation farmer who grew up on a sheep and beef properties on the East Coast.
During his school years, Lachlan developed a keen interest in orchard crops, going on to attend Massey University where he completed a Diploma in Horticultural Fruit Production.
Since then he has focused his career on helping produce the best quality pip fruit he can.
Lachlan is now national orchard manager for T and G Pip Fruit and is thrilled to be recognised for his efforts in driving the industry forward with his 2015 Syngenta Growth Award nomination.
Name: Shane Butler
Location: Ashburton, NZ
Category: Productivity
Profile: Operating outside the square, Shane strives to get the very best out of multiple crops for his growers using the latest chemistry, techniques and timings of inputs available to him, with sustainability also front of mind.
Shane collaborates with his growers to understand what crops work in their soil types, geographical area and whether they will give a sustainable return on investment.
He supplies his grower clients with information on the latest varieties and crop protection products available to enable his growers to unlock their potential yield increases.
It's this innovative and creative approach that has earned him a nomination into the 2015 Syngenta Growth Awards.