“It is with great sorrow in our hearts that Syngenta Australia mourns the passing of Ken McKee, our colleague and our friend, who passed away recently after a short illness.

“We express our condolences to Ken’s wife Hilary, their children Doug and Katie, and his loved ones,” said Syngenta’s head of corporate affairs ANZ Jaelle Bajada.

“Ken will be remembered as an essential part of our team, and he will be missed by everyone.

“Ken started his career with Ciba-Geigy, a Syngenta legacy company, in 1986 and over 36 years he has made a significant contribution to many areas across the business.

“He started work at Syngenta in R&D as a field biologist, and crop protection development (particularly in seed care) remained his passion over the years where he has been instrumental in delivering some of the industry’s most innovative solutions.”

Ms Bajada said Mr McKee’s passion and dedication to scientific innovation is recognised across the research and development community.

“Ken wore his heart on his sleeve and his pragmatism, dedication, and willingness to share advice and experience enriched everything he did and benefitted everyone he worked with.

“In honour of Ken’s legacy, we are pleased to dedicate an internal Syngenta award in his name. The Ken McKee Award will acknowledge excellence in areas of technical distinction or innovation.

“The recipient will be awarded for discovering, advancing, or creating a breakthrough that has advanced an idea or concept and delivered incremental value to Syngenta or ANZ agriculture.

“Ken was very modest when he heard of this award and after some time, took to the idea – not so much in recognition of himself but as encouragement for others to “test the boundaries, to push when you thought there was something there, even in the face of adversity.

“That same tenacity is what we will always remember of Ken.

“We will miss him greatly. May he rest in peace."