Syngenta Flowers makes strides towards a peat-free young plant production

Ornamental plant breeder and propagator Syngenta Flowers announced it is no longer using peat in their Pelargonium plug plants. At the same time, it significantly reduced the peat content in Cyclamen and other crops.

Since 2021, Syngenta Flowers has been in peat-free and peat-reduced growing media trials, testing alternatives such as cocopeat, wood fibres, bark, and compost.

The first focus was on cuttings and young plant production in peat-reduced plugs. In 2022, the first peat-free young plant production trials started, and at the beginning of 2024, the first Pelargonium young plants became commercially available in peat-free plugs and most cutting crops in peat-reduced plugs.

Peter van der Zanden, head of production EAME, says, “Since October 2024, our complete Pelargonium and a large portion of our Cyclamen young plants are produced in 100 per cent peat-free plugs, while our other cutting crops have transitioned to peat-reduced plugs. This achievement marks significant progress, but it’s not the end of our efforts. We remain committed to pushing the boundaries of sustainable horticulture, with ongoing research aimed at achieving 100 per cent peat-free production across all our young plant lines.”

At the end of 2022, several Dutch parties, including the Dutch government and the horticulture sector, made an agreement to use less peat in potting soil. This new development in young plant production will give Syngenta Flowers a head start in the sustainable production of pot and bedding plants. This creates an environmentally friendly base in the supply chain to which growers, retailers, and end-consumers can add their environmental efforts.

Olivier Clisson, head of Syngenta Flowers EAME: “At Syngenta Flowers, we have taken a significant step towards sustainability by reducing peat usage in our young plant production at our facility in the Netherlands. This major milestone demonstrates Syngenta Flowers’ commitment to environmental responsibility and lays the groundwork for more sustainable pot and bedding plant production, setting a new standard for our industry.”