We are excited to feature an interview with Cyrielle Desprez, Field Technician, on her exchange in Reedley, California.
The SynTech Talent Exchange programme provides the opportunity for our staff to go and experience being part of a foreign team, to learn other procedures, methodologies and techniques which can be adopted back home. It gives a chance to interact with other colleagues, learn and grow new practical and language skills.
Read all about her experiences below:
What was your exchange program experience?
I travelled to Reedley in California to help the team for the start of the agricultural season because it’s earlier than in France. This experience was incredible first for the landscapes, the station is next to the mountain range with lot of national parks.
There are many crops we don’t have in the north of France like mandarins, almonds, peaches, oranges… so It was interesting to see their cycle and participate in interventions.
We did three big interventions: an uprooting of vines to weight roots, planting of two big potatoes trials and mandarins harvest.
How did this exchange experience enrich your knowledge and skills to help you in your further work activities?
I especially improved my English level but I’ve been working in agricultural experimentation for five years now, so I also discovered new working methods which I wouldn’t have in my permanent station due to the type of trials. This part enriched a lot my knowledge because they were different crops than here. There is a lot of herbicide trials under greenhouse in small pots and it’s treated with an application chamber and it was the first time I had done this.
How was it working with the host country team?
The team in California is young and dynamic, so it was a pleasure to share these two months with them. They explained to me each task and why they did this, they were patient if I didn’t understand and showed me with gestures for a better understanding.
We shared several moments to discuss and they have bonding activities such as a monthly barbecue, which was nice because we could exchange ideas and unite as a team, it was very appreciated.
Any special moment you’d like to share?
Not so much a specific moment, but in general, our herbicide trials. We needed to plant different species, place them in greenhouses with specific watering, temperature regulation, and wait for germination. There were many steps that went into the trials, which for the client looks like an assessment with pictures, but for all of us technicians it’s lots of work. Made me really appreciate all the work we put in to deliver results in the industry.
If you could describe your experience in 3 words, what would they be?
Unbelievable, Opportunity and Rebirth. This experience made me gain confidence in myself, both personally and professionally. I have come back from Reedley very excited.
