Grain SA Awards celebrate producers building South Africa’s agricultural future through investment in land, people and profitable farming
Boksburg, 26 October 2026 – Pieter Nortje of Sitrusrand Boerdery in the Eastern Cape has been named the 2026 Grain SA/Syngenta Grain Producer of the Year. The award was announced at Grain SA’s annual gala awards ceremony at the Birchwood Hotel & Conference Centre on Friday, 23 October.
Held under the theme “Building for Tomorrow”, the 27th annual Grain Awards brought together producers, government representatives, agribusiness leaders and development partners to recognise excellence in grain production. A flagship occasion on the agricultural calendar, the awards honour producers whose achievements provide practical examples of profitable and sustainable farming.
Guests included Minister of Agriculture Willie Aucamp and Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition John Steenhuisen, alongside agricultural representatives from the German and French embassies. Organised agriculture, financial institutions, research organisations and agribusinesses joined producers in recognising the sector’s achievements.
Nortje was recognised alongside fellow finalists Henk Michau from Vredevind Boerdery from Reitz and Neethling Dippenaar from Diptka Boerdery from Swellendam.. Their farming journeys illustrated different approaches to building successful businesses, united by continuous learning, responsible resource management and investment in people.
Welcoming guests, Grain SA Vice-Chairperson and Phahama Grain Phakama (PGP) Chairperson Jeremia Mathebula recognised the families, farmworkers, mentors and communities behind the producers’ achievements. He emphasised the responsibility farmers share to care for their land and create opportunities for the next generation.
Grain SA Chairperson Richard Krige highlighted producers’ contribution to food security and the wider economy, as well as their resilience in the face of production costs, market pressures and unpredictable conditions. He stressed that continued investment in soil, people and technology depends on farming businesses remaining profitable.
That message was echoed by Minister Aucamp in his keynote address. Aucamp emphasised that farming must be viable today if producers are to invest in tomorrow and called for government and industry to translate partnerships into practical results.
“Profitability is what makes sustainability possible,” he said. His address highlighted market access, agro-processing and implementation of the Agriculture and Agro-processing Master Plan as priorities for strengthening the sector. Watch the keynote address.
Introducing the Minister, Grain SA Vice-Chairperson Danie Minnaar reinforced the organisation’s commitment to bringing producers’ experience, reliable evidence and practical proposals into its engagement with government. He emphasised that successful partnerships must deliver measurable progress on farms.
2026 Grain SA/Syngenta Grain Producer of the Year
The standing of the Grain SA/Syngenta Grain Producer of the Year award rests on a thorough process of farm visits and expert assessment. Looking beyond a single season’s yield, the judging panel considers each enterprise within its own production conditions and business circumstances. The 2026 finalists demonstrated how innovation, sound management and responsible resource use support profitable and sustainable grain production. Recognising these producers as role models gives other farmers practical examples to learn from and benchmarks to work towards.
2026 Grain Producer of the Year, Pieter Nortje, of Sitrusrand in the Eastern Cape combines practical entrepreneurship with an insatiable curiosity and a determination to farm better every season. Since planting his first maize crop in 2014, he has built an extensive irrigated grain enterprise that complements his established citrus operation. His approach rests on healthy soil, thorough planning, accurate measurement and proven technology. For Pieter, however, sustainable growth begins with people: he empowers managers, recognises employees’ contributions and supports training, education and community development.
In accepting the award, Nortje shared the recognition with his farm management team, acknowledging their contribution to the business’s growth and to grain production in the Eastern Cape. He also paid tribute to his father for nurturing his love of the soil and to his wife for her support.
His message to fellow producers was one of confidence and perseverance: “Be positive. Be hopeful. Farm for the future.” Watch the acceptance speech.
Syngenta Financial Director Phote Monyamane paid tribute to the finalists as producers who turn knowledge into action and set an example for the industry. He emphasised that innovation must deliver practical value on farms, supported by stronger collaboration and faster implementation. “Our shared responsibility as an industry is to accelerate execution and adoption to turn the breakthroughs into impact,” Monyamane said.
The gala also honoured the achievements of the four farmer-development category winners recognised at PGP’s Day of Celebration at NAMPO Park earlier in October:
- Grain SA/Absa/John Deere Financial Subsistence Farmer of the Year: Manqoba Nkosi, from Donkerhoek near Piet Retief, Mpumalanga.
- Grain SA/Land Bank Smallholder Farmer of the Year: Lubabalo Jordan, from Bangilizwe near Mthatha, Eastern Cape.
- Grain SA/Pannar Potential Commercial Farmer of the Year: Kopano Lentswetshipi, from Mooifontein near Lichtenburg, North West.
- Grain SA/Absa/John Deere Financial New Era Commercial Farmer of the Year: Masiu Farming Enterprise, represented by Vincent Masiu, from Senekal, Free State.
Their achievements demonstrate the contribution of practical training, mentorship and sustained support to farmers’ progress towards commercially sustainable enterprises. Read more about the development-category winners.
Grain SA thanked main sponsor Syngenta for its longstanding investment in the awards, together with Absa, John Deere Financial, Land Bank, Pannar Seed and the wider network of development partners.
As the evening concluded, the achievements of the award recipients left the wider farming community with examples to learn from and achievements to aspire to. Their contribution to agriculture gave practical meaning to the evening’s theme: Building for Tomorrow.
ENDS
Issued by: Grain SA Communications
Media & Interview enquiries: Alzena Gomes | 082 463 4356 | alzena@grainsa.co.za
