Gold Coast, Queensland – Queensland vegetable grower Rob Hinrichsen was tonight presented with the prestigious AUSVEG Grower of the Year Award, proudly sponsored by Syngenta, at the 2016 National Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner at RACV Royal Pines.

AUSVEG National Marketing Manager Nathan McIntyre said that the award was in recognition of Mr Hinrichsen’s outstanding work across all aspects of vegetable production, including his adoption of innovative technologies and practices.

“Rob’s enthusiasm for adopting innovative growing practices is renowned throughout the industry, and he’s leading the way in establishing new best practice for the vegetable industry,” said Mr McIntyre.

AUSVEG is the leading horticultural body representing Australia’s 9,000 vegetable and potato growers.

The Grower of the Year Award is supported by Syngenta, which develops seeds and crop protection products for growers worldwide, and brings together the best in global agricultural research and development to help Australian growers to manage risk, drive productivity and to realise their crop’s potential.

Based in Queensland, Mr Hinrichsen has had an active role in the trial and implementation of numerous innovative products and research projects, including adopting controlled-traffic farming practices to improve his farm’s soil health and using unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor his crops.

He was also a member of the former vegetable Industry Advisory Committee, an integral part of the investment of the National Vegetable Levy under the previous investment model.

The Syngenta Grower of the Year Award commends outstanding achievement across all aspects of vegetable and potato production, including growing, environmental management, staff management and quality of produce.

“The Grower of the Year Award is the highest accolade that can be bestowed on a member of our industry, so to reach such a level of recognition is an impressive achievement,” said Mr McIntyre.

“Rob is constantly looking for new technologies and practices to adopt on-farm, whether it be to increase the efficiency and productivity of his operation or to making his farming methods more sustainable. He’s a great example of the value that applying research and development can offer growing operations, and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for Rob and Kalfresh.”

The 2016 National Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner on the Gold Coast honoured growers and other members of the Australian vegetable, potato, apple and pear industries for outstanding achievements. The event – the biggest in Australian horticulture – drew approximately 1,500 attendees.

Mr McIntyre noted that there had been an impressive number of nominations across all award categories this year.

ENDS
MEDIA CONTACT: Shaun Lindhe, National Manager – Communications, AUSVEG
Phone: (03) 9882 0277, Mob: 0405 977 789, Email: shaun.lindhe@ausveg.com.au