YOUR INDUSTRY
Carnarvon grower
Michael Nixon nominated for Syngenta Growth Award
C
arnarvon grower and AUSVEG Director Michael Nixon has been recognised as a regional winner in the Syngenta Growth Awards, and has been nominated as a finalist for a Syngenta Growth Award in the Community & People category. Each year, Syngenta profiles growers and farm advisers from different regions across Australia and New Zealand, showcasing their contribution in one of the following categories: • Productivity: Recognises growers and advisers who use best practice in achieving consistent productivity gains. • Sustainability: Recognises growers and advisers who are committed to addressing industry issues to create a sustainable and profitable future. • Community & People: Recognises growers and advisers who make a leading contribution to their community, workers and fellow growers.
Michael sees the Australian agriculture industry as a livelihood for thousands of Australian families and a means to a secure future for his local community. He believes the key to industry success is communication and he is passionate about connecting the agriculture industry.
As part of this enterprise, Michael works to ensure safe and fair treatment of seasonal workers, including taking the time to implement a comprehensive induction program.
Michael started his career as a mixed broadacre farmer. Twelve years ago, he and his wife Catriona decided to move to Carnarvon to become banana growers. While he could not have foreseen the large learning curve that came with this change, Michael and Catriona worked hard to overcome the many challenges they faced. As such, Michael has found that the only way to succeed is to keep learning, and he achieves that for himself through collaboration with a wide variety of farmers and industry stakeholders.
He is active in a number of industry groups including Carnarvon Growers’ Association and he is an AUSVEG board member. Michael was also a past committee member of the Fruit Fly Committee, which helped establish Carnarvon’s Fruit Fly Free status. Through these groups, Michael represents his local growing community while working to navigate regulatory red tape. Importantly, Michael’s efforts have resulted in expedited and increased government support for cyclone victims in the Carnarvon area.
Michael and Catriona have since moved into growing other crops including onions, beetroots and melons alongside their bananas. In fact, they have become the largest basil and onion grower in Carnarvon.
For more information on the Syngenta awards go to their website www.syngenta.com.au/ growthawards
largest basil and onion grower in Carnarvon.
Nominations for the Growth Awards are invite-only and 25 regional winners were chosen from the pool of nominees and announced in October. The regional winners are invited to attend The Growth Awards dinner in November, where the overall Growth Awards winners are announced. The winners are chosen by an independent panel comprised of industry representatives and stakeholders and have the opportunity to participate in a Syngenta overseas study tour.
MORE INFORMATION
WA Grower SUMMER 2017
57