GREENSBORO, N.C., Oct. 29, 2025 — Syngenta Crop Protection is proud to announce that Caydee Savinelli, head of U.S. Crop Protection Stewardship, has been awarded the Lea S. Hitchner Award, the highest honor presented by CropLife America (CLA) for sustained career dedication and leadership in the crop protection industry.
“Caydee’s recognition with the Lea S. Hitchner Award is a testament to her decades-long commitment to stewardship, collaboration, and advancing science-based solutions,” said Haitian Lu, head of Crop Protection Regulatory & Stewardship for North America at Syngenta. “She has been a tireless advocate for pollinator health, environmental sustainability, and regulatory progress, and we are incredibly proud of her contributions to Syngenta and the broader agricultural community.”
With more than 40 years in the industry and 12 years of active involvement with CLA, Caydee has played a pivotal role in shaping environmental and regulatory strategies. She has served in leadership roles across several key CLA groups, including the Pollinator Working Group, Endangered Species Task Force, Environmental Science Group and the Endangered Species Stakeholder Group, where she has served as co-lead. Her career has consistently focused on pest management, product development, and crop protection.
“This award reflects collaboration, inspiration, and friendship—and the great work being done across CLA,” said Caydee. “I’m honored to be recognized by my peers and to represent the work of many. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside colleagues from across the industry who are not only collaborators, but also friends. That sense of shared purpose is what drives me—I feel a deep responsibility to give back and help the industry continue to progress.”
In her current role as head of U.S. Crop Protection Stewardship at Syngenta, Caydee leads a team dedicated to advocating, educating, and collaborating to promote the responsible use of Syngenta products. The team focuses on key areas such as environmental issues, endangered species protection, pesticide safety education, and pollinator and biodiversity conservation. Their work supports American farmers by ensuring access to a variety of tools while promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
A longstanding tradition since the 1960s, the Lea S. Hitchner Award honors individuals who exemplify leadership, integrity, and enduring commitment to CLA’s mission of supporting growers and pesticide users in protecting crops, homes, and communities.
Media Contacts
Wendell Calhoun
Senior Communications Manager, Corporate Communications Department, Syngenta
Wendell.Calhoun@Syngenta.com
Web Resources
Syngenta Newsroom
Syngenta U.S.
Thrive
About Syngenta Crop Protection
Syngenta Crop Protection is a global leader in agricultural innovation. It is focused on empowering farmers to make the transformation required to feed the world’s population while protecting our planet. Its bold scientific discoveries deliver better benefits for farmers and society on a bigger scale than ever before. Syngenta CP offers a leading portfolio of crop protection technologies and solutions that support farmers to grow healthier plants with higher yields. Its 17,700 employees are helping to transform agriculture in more than 90 countries. Syngenta Crop Protection is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, and is part of the Syngenta Group. Read our stories and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram & X.