The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) members consist of thousands of growers of flowers and ornamental plants around the world who are together united by one essential goal – promoting the place of plants in people’s lives.
AIPH hosts several conferences, webinars and events such as the International Grower of the Year award throughout the year. Read about these along with the latest news about the association’s activities.
AIPH’s key aim is to stimulate demand for ornamental trees, plants and flowers worldwide. We are committed to supporting growers in achieving this by protecting and promoting the interests of the industry.
Sustainability is fundamental to the mission of AIPH: to build a balanced and prosperous future for all, sustaining the planet for this generation and the next.
24 March 2021 - , 11:00 am - 6:00 pm Greenwich Mean Time
Our virtual Plant Health event is recognised by the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH 2020), which is supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the International Plant Protection.
Working together for better plant health
The AIPH online conference ‘Working Together for Better Plant Health’ on 24 March 2021, brought together a global audience of growers, traders, scientists, plant-health professionals, and decision-makers from more than 50 countries.
With sponsorship support from Royal FloraHolland, MPS and Visser Horti Systems, an international cast of heavy-weight and high-quality contributors from the ornamental horticulture industry presented their current regional regulatory frameworks and national initiatives in place against plant pests and diseases.
Commenting on the conference, Mr Tim Briercliffe, AIPH Secretary General, said “From this conference it was clear to see that in many countries around the world there is industry recognition that regulatory compliance alone is not enough to protect the sector from plant health threats and to maintain confidence in plant trade. National, industry-led schemes have emerged over recent years. They have been developed independently, but with the same goals.
The conference identified a clear need for more dialogue between countries on this issue and the possibility of developing a benchmark standard that could provide international recognition. The potential for collaboration with National Plant Protection Organisations in this will also enable growers to develop systems that reach common goals in a cost-effective way. AIPH will review the conclusions of the conference and our recent plant health survey to make further recommendations for industry collaboration into the future.”
Industry plant health support programmes for the global ornamental horticulture industry: Review and recommendations
AIPH believes that having robust, transparent plant health standards and industry programmes enables the global ornamental horticulture industry to produce, trade, and supply high-quality live plants and flowers within best-practice plant health measures.
We present expert speakers on the conference’s global virtual platform who can elucidate and elaborate on plant health’s importance.
“KEEPING OUR WORLD GREEN – Raising the profile of plant health”
Mr Ralf Lopian, Chair of the International Steering Committee for IYPH 2020, will open the conference.
Mr Lopian will explain why we have an International Year of Plant Health 2020, why plant health is important to producers and traders, how the future could look like, and what makes public/private partnerships in plant health especially important.
AIPH International Plant Health Survey
Dr Audrey Timm, AIPH Technical Advisor will present the results of our international survey of industry-led plant health initiatives and lessons learned. AIPH developed the survey to gather information about industry-led plant health initiatives to assist in improving plant health systems and practices throughout the global supply chain.
A review of current plant health schemes
Many countries have introduced voluntary schemes, certification and initiatives that support the horticulture industry to produce, trade, and supply high-quality live plants and flowers by defining best practice plant health measures. Country Case studies presented in this conference provide an overview and a comparison of how voluntary schemes are established and implemented around the world.
Case study, Australia –Mr Peter Vaughan, Greenlife Industry Australia will explain how the Australian ornamentals industry has collaborated with regulators to create a robust plant health system.
Case study, Italy – Mr Leonardo Capitanio, President of Italian Nurserystock Exporters Association (ANVE) will share his experiences on how Italian growers have tackled the challenges of Xylella and how they are providing more plant health assurances for the future.
Case study, UK – Mr Alistair Yeomans will present the development of the new Plant Healthy programme for the UK, how it is being implemented in the industry, and what plans they have for the future.
Case study, Netherlands – Mr John van Ruiten, Director of Naktuinbouw, will describe the structure and process of two plant health programmes that support different sectors of the ornamental horticulture industry.
Perspectives from the international cut flower supply-chain – Ms Sylvie Mamias, Secretary General of Union Fleurs, will share insights and lessons learned in dealing with plant health regulatory frameworks and emerging plant health issues that impact international trade flows and call for responsible and due diligent supply-chains.
Case study, USA – Mr Craig Regelbrugge, Senior Vice President-Advocacy and Research, AmericanHort, will describe programmes in the USA that are facilitating the movement of plants across regional and international borders
Case study, Canada – Ms Anita Heuver, Treasurer of the Canadian Nursery and Landscape Association, presents the association’s perspective on the value of their ISO-like system approach to achieve nursery certification, and how it contributes to an industry that produces plants that meet high phytosanitary standards.
Case study, Colombia – Mr Andrés Saenz Merino, Director CENIFLORES, will explain the challenges of importing and exporting plant material without any industry-organised plant health scheme, and how business must adapt.
Conclusions and next steps – Mr Tim Edwards, AIPH Vice President will summarise the lessons from the conference and outline potential next steps for collaboration.
11:00 Virtual exhibition and networking opportunities on the Hopin platform
12:00 Welcome by Chair – Mr Tim Briercliffe, AIPH Secretary General
12:05 Welcome speech – Mr Tim Edwards, AIPH Vice President and Chair of AIPH Ornamentals Production Committee
12:15 “KEEPING OUR WORLD GREEN – Raising the profile of plant health” Mr Ralf Lopian, Chair of the International Steering Committee for the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH) 2020, will address the justification on why we have an IYPH 2020, why plant health is important to producers and traders, how the future could look, and how public/private partnerships in plant health are especially important.
12:40 Q&A
12:50 National plant health initiatives – Dr Audrey Timm, AIPH Technical Advisor will present the results of an international survey of industry-led plant health initiatives and lessons learned.
13:10 Q&A with Alistair Yeomans
13:20 Case study: Australia – Mr Peter Vaughan, Greenlife Industry Australia will demonstrate how the Australian ornamentals industry has collaborated with regulators to create a robust plant health system.
13:40 BREAK
14:00 Case study: Italy– Mr Leonardo Capitanio, President of Italian Nurserystock Exporters Association (ANVE) will share his experiences on how Italian growers have tackled the challenges of Xylella and how they are providing more plant health assurances for the future.
14:15 Case study : UK – Mr Alistair Yeomans will present the development of Plant Healthy programme, how the industry is involved and plans for the future
14:30 Case study: The Netherlands – Naktuinbouw Elite – description of the impact of this commercial programme on market recognition and improved product value
14:45 Perspectives from the international cut flower supply-chain – presented by Ms Sylvie Mamias, Secretary General of Union Fleurs.
15:00 Panel for questions – the panel will be the speakers for case studies 2-4, and will be chaired by Tim Edwards.
15:30 BREAK
15:35 Case study: USA – Craig Regelbrugge, Senior Vice President-Advocacy and Research, AmericanHort, will describe programmes in the USA that are facilitating the movement of plants across regional and international borders
15:50 Case study: Canada – Ms Anita Heuver, will introduce the Clean Plants program in Canada, on behalf of CNLA.
16:05 Case study: Colombia – Mr Andrés Saenz will share the importance of plant health to the ornamental horticulture industry in Colombia, and explain the challenges of moving plants across international borders.
16:20 This panel-style Q&A session, chaired by Tim Briercliffe, will further explore plant health management systems across North and South America and Africa.
16:45 Conclusions and next steps – Mr Tim Edwards will summarise the lessons from the conference and outline potential next steps for collaboration
International Plant Health Conference
AIPH members are organisations representing the interests of ornamentals producers in their country or region. The global networks, knowledge sharing, and professional connections between members, affiliates, sponsors and supporters put AIPH in a dominant position to positively influence international plant health.
At the beginning of the year members and contacts completed a plant health survey of a kind that has never been done before. The aim was to identify industry-led initiatives that support growers in demonstrating good plant health practices across live plant supply chains. The questions aimed to identify in which countries and regions plant health programmes are used, what the common features between these are, and how effective they are in supporting biosecure and efficient movement across regional and national borders.
AIPH Technical Advisor, Dr Audrey Timm, provided a review of that survey at the International Plant Health Conference, identifying what support the industry has from programmes that provide testing and certification of plant health management systems and processes.
More than three quarters (77.5%) of those surveyed indicated a need for a voluntary international [inter-regional] plant health and biosecurity standard.
AIPH believes that having robust, transparent plant health standards and industry programmes enables the global ornamental horticulture industry to produce, trade, and supply high-quality live plants and flowers within best-practice plant health measures. Plant health programmes aim to enable healthy production systems, cost-effective and reliable movement of low-risk plant material within global supply chains, and traceability in the event of a biosecurity threat.
A full report from AIPH will be available to review in May.
For further details please email AIPH Technical Advisor, Dr Audrey Timm at audrey.timm@aiph.org.
Welcome from the AIPH Secretary General and the AIPH Vice President.
Closing remarks from AIPH Secretary General Tim Briercliffe and AIPH Vice President Tim Edwards.
Royal FloraHolland is a cooperative of growers and we have brought together growers and buyers for over 100 years. We strive for sustainable success for our members by working together with all parties in the floriculture industry, so that the industry continues to grow. We believe that we are smarter and better together, and can do more at less cost than if we each operate on our own. Together, we are becoming increasingly efficient and sustainable and are working towards a future-proof floriculture industry.
We are the biggest marketplace for floriculture in the world and one of the most important export sectors in the Netherlands.
We are developing our marketplace into a digital B2B platform for the floriculture industry with the broadest, deepest and most sustainable range of flowers and plants available worldwide. Ordering, payment, delivery, we ensure that everything is possible through our platform. We connect growers and buyers with all parties in the industry. We are committed to long-term sustainable development. This is how we not only become smarter, more sustainable and more efficient, but also build a future-proof sector. Come join us – Connect to grow.
Royal FloraHolland’s mission is ‘Growing opportunities together’, we connect parties in the floriculture industry and create opportunities for sustainable growth and success on the global market.
Visser Horti Systems has been designing and manufacturing horticultural machines and complete production lines for both large and small nurseries since 1967.
Visser supplies a range of automation solutions for any starting material like seed, tissue culture and cuttings. By maintaining a continuous dialogue with growers, Visser can deliver both standard and customer-specific machines. As an innovative and globally operating company, Visser is a leading force in the horticultural sector.
The MPS Group supports horticultural entrepreneurs worldwide in their efforts to operate more sustainably. MPS offers them a complete package to make quality and sustainability transparent, measurable and demonstrable. To this end, MPS develops innovative certification standards and on and offline tools.
CIOPORA is the International Association of Breeders of Asexually Reproduced Horticultural Varieties
Breeders of such varieties account for two-thirds of all Plant Variety Right (PVR) titles in the world. For more than 50 years, CIOPORA has been representing these breeders in all matters of Intellectual Property (IP) Protection, aiming to foster an environment in which the innovation of these breeders can flourish. The main priority of CIOPORA is the constant development and enhancement of systems of Intellectual Property Protection for plant innovation. CIOPORA enjoys the observer status at the Administrative Council of CPVO and the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). CIOPORA unites breeders of all asexually reproduced horticultural plants with a broad portfolio of species and varieties on the market. CIOPORA is a member-based, non-profit organisation with currently 125 members from over 20 countries on five continents.
ENA, the European Nurserystock Association, represents nursery stock growers’ organisations all over Europe.
The nurseries, where live plants are propagated, grown and traded, are members of regional or national nursery organisations that are members of the ENA. Twenty two European countries currently constitute the membership of ENA: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.
EPIC promotes the sustainable development of organisations working in the field of photonics
EPIC is the world-leading industry association that promotes the sustainable development of organizations working in the field of photonics in Europe. We foster a vibrant photonics ecosystem by maintaining a strong network and acting as a catalyst and facilitator for technological and commercial advancement. EPIC publishes market and technology reports, organizes technical workshops and B2B roundtables, supports EU funding proposals, advocacy and lobbying, education and training activities, standards and roadmaps, pavilions at exhibitions.
Fleuroselect is an international organisation for the ornamental plants industry.
For more than 45 years, industry professionals have joined together to test and evaluate new pot and bedding plants, promote award winners, protect member varieties, network with each other and contribute to the development and advancement of the industry as a whole. The four current Business Units are Breeders, Production & Distribution, Home Gardening and Protection. Activities such as policing illegally reproduced cuttings, a market survey of seedling and cutting sales and networking conferences are self-funding.
Florint, the International Florist Organisation, is a non-profit umbrella organisation supporting the professional florist and nurturing the flower sector.
Our mission is to improve the business life of floral entrepreneurs. To do so, we provide added value to florist associations in 20+ countries – our members. We help them to provide florists with best business practices, market opportunities, reliable information and cost-reduction programs.
• Florint establishes partnerships with select organisations in the flower chain to achieve this mission. We work together to make business better for all of us, and to collectively defend the interests of the floral industry.
• To promote craftsmanship, Florint regularly organises the junior and senior European Florist Championship: Eurofleurs and the Europa Cup! These competitions stimulate innovation and highlight the art of flowers – effectively promoting the sector to the public.
• We also work hard to support progressive floristry education; to improve the international exchange of skills and expertise, and to professionalise and standardise floral design assessment.
Florint is a vital partner for forward-looking florists, associations as well as sector businesses. Do you want to work together on behalf of the industry? Get in touch with us now via: info@florint.org
Naktuinbouw monitors and promotes the quality of products, processes and chains in horticulture.
Naktuinbouw (the Netherlands Inspection Service for Horticulture) promotes and monitors the quality of products, processes and production chains in the horticultural sector. The main focus is on propagating material, of national and international origin.
Ornamental Plants & Flowers Mexico is the first international fair for the flower industry in Mexico.
From 17 to 19 November 2021, the Ornamental Plants & Flowers Expo in Mexico City will be a unique opportunity to open up the country’s industry. This event will generate business that drives the value chain by exhibiting products and services in four exhibition areas like Plants and Flowers, Gardening and Landscaping, Floristry and Decoration, and Technology and Innovation.
Union Fleurs represent, promote and defend the interests of the international floricultural trade.
Union Fleurs was founded in 1959 in Brussels as an international umbrella organisation for national associations and companies active in the floricultural trade.
Its main purpose is to represent and promote the interests of traders of cut flowers, cut foliage and pot plants.
Union Fleurs has nowadays members in 20 countries worldwide, gathering over 3.000 companies involved in the import, export, wholesale and distribution of cut flowers and pot plants.
World Horti Center is the knowledge and innovation centre of the international greenhouse horticulture sector.
A leading platform where business, education, research and government jointly innovate, connect, inspire and share knowledge.
World Horti Center connect parties who want to contribute in sustainable food supply and greening the world. Leading horticultural companies and innovations are represented at our year-round trade fair. Here is a complete reflection of technology, supply, floriculture and food horticulture.
In order to continue to innovate and maintain its lead as an international sector, World Horti Center has a state-of-the-art research center with 38 greenhouse departments where researchers, entrepreneurs and various education institutions jointly conduct research. In addition, World Horti Center offers a learning environment for global talent and we work together with leading (green) universities.
World Horti Center is a unique collaboration between education, research, entrepreneurs and the government with an international focus. MBO Westland, Vertify, WHC Expo bv and Municipality of Westland together form World Horti Center.
China Flowers & Horticulture is one of the most authoritative and influential periodicals of the floriculture industry in China. It was founded in 2001, sponsored by the China Flower Association and directed by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration. The magazine editorial committee is composed of secretaries of flower associations and branches of the China Flower Association and nearly 50 well-known flower horticultural entrepreneurs in China.
The magazine is published biweekly, on the 1st and 15th of each month, which is printed in full colour coated paper in the international 16K version. It aims at introducing industry policies, researching the theories, guiding mass consumption, and fostering the development of the industry. It highlights guidance, knowledge and practicality and integrates policies, scientific technologies, production, and market information together to meet the needs of readers. It timely reports the latest trends of the market and prices, provides a detailed explanation of new policies, professional investigation of hot spots, and global latest flower technology. It also introduces the newest varieties and products of the industry in detail and provides practical technology and experience.
FloraCulture Internationalmagazine, (FCI), is a publication specific to the international floricultural industry.
It is distributed directly to individuals and through FCI Partner Associations, (consisting mainly of growers, breeders, wholesalers, landscapers and some retail), on a bi-monthly basis from the Americas to Australasia in both printed and digital forms.
Our publishing organisation is the global horticultural Expo licencing body, the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH). This governing body has membership associations whose prime purpose is to champion the power of plants.
Each edition of FCI has thorough articles based upon a country from around the world and its specific horticultural industry.
We write about themes in celebration of floriculture. These include propagation, breeding, substrates and sustainability; flower trials and auctions; process automation and horticultural machinery; packaging and plastic alternatives; cold chain logistics and transportation; biophilia and Green City planning.
Currently, 5,500 subscribers receive printed versions directly, and 100,000 welcome it digitally – and many more people see it online every day.
FCI is delivered to 142 countries across the globe and features at many expos, and trades shows throughout the world.
In summary, FCI magazine, through its global reach, will enable your business to promote your brand and give visibility to your products in both new and existing target markets.
Horticulture Week is the leading information service for professionals working in horticulture including garden retail, ornamentals production, edibles production, landscape design & build, parks management, professional gardening, turf care and arboriculture.
IL FLORICULTORE is the first trade magazine founded in Italy for the floriculture industry, since 1964, IL FLORICULTORE is a valuable source of news and information for generations of growers, retailers and everyone involved in the plants & flowers market. With technical and generic articles it covers subjects as cultivation techniques and growing systems, trends and marketing, breeding and market data, pest control, flower design, fertilizers, education and careers, retail and supplies, irrigation, financial aspects, trade exhibitions, seminars and more. Together with its active website (www.ilfloricultore.it), newsletter and social media channels, IL FLORICULTORE connects advertisers with the most qualified readership (growers, garden centres, florists, gardeners, crossbreeders and plant-breeders, wholesalers, manufacturers and traders of supplies, agents of plants seeds and bulbs and, generally, those who are interested in the ornamental horticulture).
More and more specialisation in horticulture was one of the reasons for the creation of Pod Osłonami PL. It is devoted to the cultivation of vegetables and ornamental plants in greenhouses and foil tunnels, as well as issues related to the growing production of berry plants undercover.
Vegetable and floriculture specialities have a lot in common and they often interpenetrate in practice – for example in traditional farms growing in tunnels, where tomatoes or cucumbers are grown in the spring cycle and chrysanthemums in autumn. Also in modern farming, for example, vegetable and decorative novelties are promoted – such as pot tomatoes or mini-peppers with ornamental fruit intended for sale in garden centres. With the changing economic situation in horticulture, it is worth being open to any new products that allow you to exist and stay on the market.
I hope you will be interested in the articles presented on the Pod Osłonami PL website. Over time, they will be expanded with new sections, I will be grateful for your suggestions on the topics presented. Feel free to jointly create the content of the portal.
The IYPH 2020-approved conference is free to attend, and many hundreds of delegates from around the world will join this leading international online event on the critically important subject of Plant Health.
Those attending will include policymakers, national grower associations, growers, breeders, wholesalers, retailers, suppliers to the industry, academics and AIPH members.
This event will be using the multi-functional Hopin platform.
AIPH in association with FloraCulture International (FCI) is providing you with the opportunity to sponsor the Plant Health Conference and market your latest products and innovations to a global audience and network with key decision-makers from around the world. For more information download this brochure.
Book Your Sponsorship Package For more information, contact Treve Evans AIPH Senior International Relations Manager Email: treve.evans@aiph.org
Tel: + 44 (0) 1235 776160 Mobile: +44 (0) 7799 813602
