Syngenta's Rafael Pons Discusses 2026 Future of Veg Events

WOODLAND, CA - The second edition of Syngenta’s Future of Veg event will take place August 11–13 in Plainfield, Wisconsin, and Woodland, California. Customers, experts, and Syngenta reps will come together to focus on what’s next for the vegetable market and to experience innovation firsthand in key markets.

“This year’s events are designed to do one thing exceptionally well: Connect the people shaping the vegetable market with the ideas and innovations that will define what comes next,” Rafael Pons, Regional Customer Experience Lead, began telling me. “We’ll bring customers, growers, and experts together with Syngenta to share perspectives, challenge assumptions, and turn today’s conversations into tomorrow’s decisions. Along the way, we’ll spotlight our innovation pipeline through hands-on demonstrations for key markets—so partners can see, evaluate, and understand performance in real conditions. We’ll also unpack the trends that matter most and translate them into clear, practical actions that teams can apply.”

The event will highlight Syngenta’s innovation pipeline and the most relevant market trends translated into practical, field-ready actions, with on-site demonstrations tailored by location:

• Woodland: A showcase of new watermelon, squash, and melon varieties, alongside additional innovations that reflect Syngenta’s strengths across the Americas, including determinate tomato varieties, hot peppers, and an upcoming onion portfolio for the U.S. market
• Plainfield: A technology showcase featuring high-yield sweet corn hybrids, as well as beans and crop protection/plant health management technologies designed to support growers in day-to-day operations

Other highlights include:

• Hot Peppers: In Woodland, Syngenta will highlight the recent development of a portfolio of Jalapeño and Ancho varieties around the realities growers face every day. This portfolio is developed to deliver reliable results across diverse climates, stand up to disease pressure, and meet the quality and market specifications buyers demand
• Watermelon: Syngenta will reinforce its Grown For Generations campaign—a commitment to growers who carry tradition forward while adapting to what’s next. Syngenta’s long-standing presence in watermelon is rooted in deep agronomic knowledge, close partnerships with growers, and a track record of performance in the field
• United States Onions: Syngenta is choosing to go deeper in key crops like onions, not as a short-term bet, but as a long-term commitment. The company is also expanding its offerings to commercial partners who operate in the onion segment, because strong execution depends on strong partnerships

This year’s events will spotlight a powerful theme: Women Farmer of the Year.

With the United Nations naming 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer, Syngenta is proud to support this moment with an initiative that invites women across agriculture, especially women farmers and the allies who stand with them, to share the stories that too often go unheard.

“We want to hear how you’re empowering women farmers and expanding opportunities for women at every step of the value chain: on the farm, in the business, in the cooperative, in the supply chain, in leadership, and in the next generation. Because progress isn’t just a statistic, it’s personal. It shows up in a decision made with confidence, in access finally unlocked, in a voice that’s listened to, in a family’s income becoming more stable, in a community that grows stronger,” Rafael continued. “Our goal is to spotlight real people and real momentum. To bring forward human stories that prove what’s possible when women farmers are recognized, supported, and given the tools and opportunities they deserve. These stories don’t just inspire; they create visibility, shift mindsets, and open doors for others.”

With a focus on long-term innovations and uplifting the voices of female farmers, this year’s Future of Veg events are sure to leave a lasting impression. For more industry insights, stick with us at ANUK.