AIPH and GYBN are proud to announce that the winner of the coveted Young International Grower of the Year Award will participate as a member of the dynamic Youth Jury who will select the winner of the AIPH Youth Award in the AIPH World Green City Awards 2024.
Colin Fernandes, Trial Site Coordinator for Marginpar, Kenya, received the Young International Grower of the Year Award at an International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) awards ceremony held at the IPM Essen, Germany, on Tuesday 23 January. This award is part of the AIPH International Grower of the Year (IGOTY) Awards 2024, which celebrates the best of the best in ornamental horticulture production. The Young IGOTY category recognises vibrant individuals, aged 25-40, who will lead the industry into the future. Entrants were participants of Jungle Talks’ Pro Manager Mastercourse.
“The youth are champions of innovation, as Colin’s Young International grower of the Year win has shown” says Mr. Timothy Blatch, Green City Consultant, AIPH. “It is critical that the voice of the youth today is central to shaping the cities of tomorrow. What better way to showcase how city-led action, youth innovation, and the horticulture industry can, together, deliver greener cities of the future than by having Colin join the Youth Jury for the AIPH World Green City Awards 2024.”
Following the recent announcement of the Youth Jury, Colin joins the diverse group of fifteen young people, all with a passion for urban greening, who will select the shortlist of three entries from the 21 Finalists in the AIPH World Green City Awards 2024. From this shortlist, the Youth Jury will also select the AIPH Youth Award winner: the top entry most likely to inspire the youth and fulfil their needs for a secure, healthy future.
“We extend our warmest greetings as we proudly welcome Mr. Fernandes to the AIPH Youth Award Jury. His inclusion marks a pivotal stride towards harmonising the aspirations of emerging leaders in ornamental horticulture production with the visionaries shaping tomorrow’s urban landscapes, with the common goal to create greener and more sustainable cities for generations to come.”- Mr. Félix Feider, Senior Programme Officer, Synchronicity Earth and Member of the AIPH Youth Award Steering Group.
The shortlisted cities for the AIPH Youth Award will each receive a certificate at the Awards ceremony, where the winner of the AIPH Youth Award will be publicly announced, alongside the 7 category winners and the Grand Winner of the AIPH World Green City Awards 2024. AIPH recently announced that the Awards ceremony for the AIPH World Green City Awards will take the form of a dedicated gala dinner, set to be hosted on 25th September 2024 in the City of Utrecht, Netherlands, as part of the official program of the first Future Green City World Congress.
“I am thrilled to contribute to the AIPH Youth Jury, evaluating visionary projects in the AIPH World Green City Awards 2024. The opportunity allows us to recognize and celebrate the achievements of cities around the world, but also support the next generation’s vision for a secure, sustainable future. I am ready to be inspired.”- Mr. Colin Fernandes, New Product Development, Marginpar and AIPH Young International Grower of the Year 2024 Award winner.
With the winner of the Young International Grower of the Year Award on the Youth Jury, AIPH and GYBN are delighted to demonstrate not only the power of plants, but also the power of uniting the horticulture industry with green city practice. Through this connection, the Youth Jury will empower growers to have a better understanding of the needs and desires of the city leaders of tomorrow and, in turn, inspire city leaders to raise their ambition by showcasing the bold actions of these growers. The Youth Jury offers an exciting platform through which youth are central to forging this connection.
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