Scholarship Winners Embrace Ag's Future

The Good Growth Plan is firmly fixed on the future—so it’s fitting to hear from agriculture’s next generation about this long-term project from Syngenta. The Good Growth Plan has the mission of improving resource efficiencies and ecosystems, and enhancing the well-being of the agricultural community. College students from across the country recently shared their thoughts about The Good Growth Plan in essays that they submitted to the Syngenta 2015 Agricultural Scholarship program.

“Not everyone can become an expert in agricultural biotechnology, but I believe more can be done to bridge this gap.”

In the first round of the competition, the company awarded a $1,000 scholarship to one undergraduate and one graduate student in each of its four regions—for a total of eight regional winners. From this group, Syngenta awarded two national scholarships of $6,000 each to a graduate student and an undergraduate student—both from Michigan State University. Mitch Roth, who is working toward a doctorate in genetics, and Logan Crumbaugh, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness management, represented their school well.

“The Good Growth Plan is a progressive policy and looks to have a lasting impact,” wrote Roth in his essay. He also noted that he would like to see it have an educational outreach component. “Not everyone can become an expert in agricultural biotechnology, but I believe more can be done to bridge this gap.”

Crumbaugh also appreciates the commitments outlined in The Good Growth Plan and the exposure they give to agriculture’s many successes. “Syngenta and farmers alike have already made great strides in recent years toward making crops more efficient, reducing the amount of erosion on viable farmland, helping biodiversity flourish, strengthening small farms, helping people stay safe, and looking after every worker,” he wrote in his essay. The Good Growth Plan, Crumbaugh says, is bringing farmers, Syngenta and retailers together to collectively achieve a higher level of success.

“With the 2015 Syngenta Agricultural Scholarship essay topic, we challenged students to contribute ideas for delivering on The Good Growth Plan,” says Mary DeMers, senior communications lead for Syngenta. “Mitch and Logan were just two of the many students who took on this challenge, and we’re happy to recognize them as the 2015 national winners. We also look forward to what the future holds for them and their careers in agriculture.”

Once again, the 2016 competition is open to college undergraduates and graduate students who are enrolled in and are in good standing at a U.S. land grant university as of this spring. They must also be pursuing a degree in a crop-related discipline in an accredited agriculture program.

As part of the application process, eligible students will write a 750- to 1,000-word essay. For more details on the essay theme and application deadlines and requirements, visit www.syngenta-us.com/scholarships for updates.