Scientist wins Syngenta Growth Award for work in sustainable fruit production
14 December 2018
Plant & Food Research crop protection specialist Dr Jim Walker was amongst a number of industry leaders from New Zealand and
Australia to receive the Syngenta Growth Awards in Sydney. The accolades recognise individuals from different regions
across the two countries who have made significant contributions to productivity, sustainability or community & people in agriculture.
Dr Walker was the winner of the Sustainability Researcher category for his role in the development and implementation of
the Integrated Fruit Production programme, an approach to pest management that has become the cornerstone of the New
Zealand apple export programme.
He has demonstrated a lifelong passion for safe fruit production through his work on reducing pesticide inputs and
residues on fruit crops. He has led a team that helped apple growers adopt practices to greatly reduce pesticide use and
residues. This programme prioritised greater use of biological control and non-chemical methods. It has contributed to a
90% reduction in the quantity of insecticide used in New Zealand apple production today.
As a winner, Dr Walker will participate in a study tour of the United Kingdom and Europe in 2019 where he will be
focussing on advances in biological pesticide technology.
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