The programme is a partnership between Syngenta, Grain SA and the University of the Free State (UFS) Business School.

What makes this year’s programme special is that the Grain Academy will move to the Western Cape and open its doors to all farmers.

The academy was launched in 2013, and the leadership programme is specifically tailored for young commercial farmers to equip and empower them to address the challenges that the agricultural industry faces.

This year’s programme will focus on the following topics, among others:

The changing and interactive future of agriculture

The art of leading

Providing direction

The value of diversity

Leading and facilitating change and transformation.

Welcoming the delegates, Dr Dirk Strydom, Grain SA’s manager for grain economy and marketing, said it was important to develop young agricultural leaders who will change the future.

“This programme is an opportunity to invest in our youth,” he said. He added that the programme will also assist delegates with people skills, enabling them to work with others and to help others work together.

“Learn how to understand people and you will get far in life,” Strydom said.