Dutch certification scheme MPS inks Memorandum of Understanding with Costa Rica’s industry body for ornamental horticulture CPFF CR

The Dutch certification scheme for ornamental horticulture, MPS, and the Chamber of Plants, Flowers, and Foliage of Costa Rica (CPFF CR) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen the cooperation between both organisations.

MPS and CPFF CR put their signatures to the agreement during CPFF CR’s annual meeting in the country’s Alajuela district on 30 March 2023.

The agreement will support member growers in their efforts to grow more sustainably.

Mr Rodolfo Gil, President of CPFF, signed the Memorandum on behalf of CPFF. For MPS, the Memorandum was signed by Mr Arthij van der Veer, Area Manager Africa.

Other CPFF dignitaries present included Maylen Rojas, Vice President CPFF; Folkert Hoekstra, Vice President; Sergio Madrigal, Director; María Nela Jiménez, Fiscal; Gilberth Castillo, Director and Bernardo Vargas, Executive Director.

“The agreement with MPS allows us to establish a working relationship with clear purposes and to achieve direct benefits for Costa Rican producers. We are extremely grateful for this initiative that we hope will be consolidated from the work and trust that we build together,” says Bernardo Vargas.

Arthij van der Veer, Area Manager MPS agrees: “The cooperation with CPFF CR as leading industry association in Costa Rica creates the opportunity to not only work with growers individually on sustainability but also on an industry level. Topics like lowering usage of crop protection agents, calculating carbon footprints and reporting directives are applicable globally and by cooperating we ensure that exporting growers from Costa Rica ensure their market position. As MPS we are happy to have broad support from the industry to cooperate on the area of sustainability and we are looking forward to sharing results in the near future”.