AIPH International Grower of the Year Awards 2024 extended

Entry time for the prestigious A IPH International Grower of the Year (IGOTY) Awards 2024 is now open until 31 July.

Organised by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) and founding partner FCI, the IGOTY Awards celebrate the best of the best in ornamentals production. The awards comprise five categories: finished plants and trees, young plants, cut flowers and bulbs, sustainability, and inspiring business.

GLOBALG.A.P is sponsoring the Sustainability category of the

SOUTH KOREA

Save the Date

awards. This category recognises best practices and innovation in improving sustainability in areas such as water use, chemical use, climate change, and more. As a scheme focusing on safe and sustainable farming practices, this award category perfectly fits GLOBALG.A.P.

Read more about the journey for this year's Sustainability IGOTY 2023 winner from the UK, Allensmore, on page 8.

How To Mitigate The Potential Risks Of Deglobalisation And Ensure Continued Success

The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) 75th Annual Congress will take place in Suncheon, Republic of Korea on 17-21 September 2023.

The programme outline is as follows:

17 September – Arrival of delegates and welcome dinner.

18 September – AIPH Expo Conference and tour of the 2023 Suncheonman International Garden Expo

19 September -

• AIPH General Meeting

• Industry Conference – Ornamental Horticulture in Korea – This will include speakers from the Korean Ministry of Agriculture, the Korea Federation of Flower Related Associations, a Korean grower and the Embassy of the Netherlands in Korea.

• Environmental Footprinting in Ornamental Horticulture – This will include a presentation from Albert Haasnoot from Royal FloraHolland on what the industry in EU is doing to comply with footprinting requirements and a discussion on how this can be adapted in other countries.

• Sustainability – there will be a presentation from Martin Brijs (HTA, UK) on how UK growers are reducing the use of peat and there will be a sustainability panel for members to share questions and initiatives.

20 September –

• AIPH Green City Conference – This will include presentations from Korea, the Netherlands and other countries on Green City developments.

• Green City Tours – there will be visits to Green City projects in the Suncheon area.

21 September – Professional visits to Korean businesses.

22 September – Departure of delegates

Further details on www.aiph.org/event/75th-annual-congress/

PROFLORA celerates its 30 th year

Proflora 2023 takes place in Bogota, Colombia, between 4th to 6th October. It's one of the largest international floriculture industry fairs, and it celebrates a 30 year milestone this year. We will share more details in our September edition. Visit www.proflora.co

Shane Wang was a recent participant of the Jungle Talks Pro Manager Mastercourse Floriculture (see page 24) and a Young International Grower of the Year 2023 candidate. He started as a researcher at the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center in Academia Sinica and later worked as a crop specialist in the Department of Agricultural Protection at BASF. Shane is currently serving as the crop protection and automation manager at Royal Base Corporation in Chinese Taipei, a leading Phalaenopsis breeder, propagator, and producer.

“In the post-pandemic world, the ornamental horticulture industry will likely face several challenges due to geopolitical instability, inflation and soaring energy costs, supply chain disruption, and trade disputes.

These challenges could impact the industry's ability to operate efficiently and meet consumer demands. In response, there has been a growing trend towards reducing reliance on global supply chains for different stages of production and logistics. This trend is driven by factors such as national security concerns and the need for greater supply chain resilience.

In anticipation of future deglobalisation, growers must proactively adopt measures to mitigate risks and remain competitive. One such step is diversifying the supply chain to reduce dependence on a single source. Investment in local manufacturing and adopting sustainable practices to reduce carbon footprints are other measures that could help prepare for a more localised industry.

While deglobalisation may result in reduced availability of certain flower varieties in specific regions or countries, it could also lead to higher labour costs and a lack of suitable land for cultivation. Furthermore, a shift towards local production could disrupt the existing international flower supply chain.

This disruption could cause supply shortages or higher prices for certain flower types, particularly in regions where local production is not feasible due to climatic or other factors. Therefore, the question of how to balance the movement of the production chain still needs to be solved for growers.

Overall, the trend towards deglobalisation presents both challenges and opportunities for growers in the flower industry. To ensure continued success, growers must diversify their product and supply chain, invest in local manufacturing, and adopt sustainable practices. By doing so, they can prepare for the future and remain competitive in a changing industry landscape.”