Agriculture Education

With less than two percent of the population in Canada coming from an agricultural background, now more than ever we need to share the importance of farming and our bioeconomy. Continual learning, awareness and research will be central to meeting the challenges agriculture faces with land use, water conservation and biodiversity. The following are examples of how Syngenta is helping to promote agriculture education in Canada.


The Syngenta Scholarships in Agriculture Sustainability fund research and learning at Canada’s major agricultural universities. Research under these scholarships will build awareness and future opportunities for Canadian agriculture and our rural communities. All scholarships are managed by the corresponding learning institution, and include.


Post Secondary Scholarship Awards in Agriculture and Agriculture Sustainability

Ph.D. Sustainable Agriculture Scholarships (two awards) for the Ontario Agricultural College at the University of Guelph

Ph.D. Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship for the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Home Economics at the University of Alberta

M.Sc. Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship for the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the University of Manitoba

M.Sc. Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College

M.Sc. Sustainable Agriculture Scholarship for the College of Agriculture and Bioresources at the University of Saskatchewan

M.Sc. Syngenta Achievement Scholarship at the University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus

B.Sc. Scholarship for the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of McGill, Macdonald College

B.Sc. Scholarships (two awards)  for the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at Université Laval

B.Sc. Syngenta Maritime Pest Management bursary (two awards) for students reflecting an interest in the Maritime potato industry, Nova Scotia Agricultural College br>
B.Sc. Syngenta Achievement Award recognizing outstanding agricultural academic achievement at the University of Saskatchewan

B.Sc. Syngenta Achievement Award recognizing outstanding agricultural academic achievement at the University of Manitoba

Two awards for students enrolled in the Agricultural Management program as a production major and returning to the farm, Olds College

Graduate Student Research Programs: The University of Guelph hosts Syngenta research projects that include two M.Sc. students and one Ph.D. student


Advanced Agricultural Leadership
Syngenta supports the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP), which providing opportunities for current and emerging leaders in the agri-food system to develop the skills, knowledge and positive attitude needed to propel agriculture into the 21st century.

Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC)
Getting factual and educational materials on where our food comes from into the school curriculum is the focus of Agriculture in the Classroom throughout Canada. Syngenta supports the national conference where these AITC non-profit organizations meet to share ideas on increasing awareness and understanding of the complexities and importance of agriculture. Educating our youth will enable more people to make informed choices and decisions related to food, the environment, lifestyles and agricultural practices.

Canadian 4-H Council
4-H in Canada is a rural, community-based organization that develops life skills such as citizenship, leadership, cooperation, responsibility and independence in Canadian youth. Syngenta is a sponsor and actively involved at the national and provincial levels, including the national annual meeting and with the Syngenta 4-H Ontario Arbor Award, given annually to recognize the outstanding contribution made by volunteers to the Ontario 4-H program. Many of today’s leaders, not only in agriculture, grew up with 4-H.

In 2011, Syngenta was the catalyst behind the Symposium on Science hosted as part of the National 4-H Conference, which allowed 100 4-H youth ages 16-24 to realize career opportunities beyond farming. Syngenta scientists were on the steering committee and attended the event.

Canadian Young Speakers for Agriculture (CYSA)
Providing young people with the opportunity to develop their public speaking skills and to become involved with agriculture. The national CYSA competition is held annually at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and Syngenta supports the progarm and often serves on the judging panel.