FCI January 2022 by KISAN

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JANUARY 2022

S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

Greenovation or frustration? A G LO B A L F I R S T

Canada proclaims 2022 to be Year of the Garden BEL ARUS

Tax exemption ends for international suppliers

FLORIADE 2022 - IT’S HAPPENING Diving deep into the wonders of nature and growing green cities

Your Sole Supplier of True

Ferns

Come see us at MANTS (USA) in booth 1139, and at TPIE in Tampa (USA) in booth 1733.

Vitro Plus B.V. Roterij 26, 4328 BA Burgh-Haamstede The Netherlands Tel. +31 111 468088 sales@vitroplus.nl

F R O M T H E E D I TO R Ron van der Ploeg

WISHING YOU A MILD 2022 January begins with determination to do better, build back greener and succeed. Whether personally or in business, we reflect on what has been achieved and what yet has to be accomplished. For thirty-two years we have been producing FloraCulture International. We were the first global English-language horticultural magazine. To date, we have a digital readership of 125,000 worldwide. With lockdowns and social distancing affecting all of us, 2021 has been a year of new realities and opportunities. We found that industry professionals worldwide were relying more than ever on our online news coverage and events.

One year ago, the Turkish Ornamental Plants and Products Exporters Association, also known as Turkish Flowers, engaged the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) and media partner FloraCulture International (FCI) to identify, screen and arrange meetings with potential business partners for growers/exporters from Turkey. The inaugural Turkey-Netherlands-Germany Ornamental Horticulture Virtual Trade Mission helped Turkey put itself forward as a horticultural powerhouse. Throughout 2021, FCI and its publisher, AIPH, have been offering members and readers so much more than just accurate reporting and a regular free subscription. We have been keeping our readers upto-date with five themed webinars - Understanding and Developing Ornamental Horticulture in China; Sustainable Growing Media; How to Capitalise on the Recent Houseplant Trend and Tapping into Mexico’s Ornamental Horticulture Industry. FCI finished 2021 with a bang by organising the first Global Wedding Flowers Event in Italy on 25 October. The historic Villa Mosconi Bertani estate served as the webinar’s elegant backdrop to update 640 online guests from 45 countries about the global wedding flowers market in 2021. We have long standing correspondents from around the world who keep us in touch with the industry everywhere. With our accurate, first-hand and relevant reporting on all the news that matters within the industry combined with top-notch webinar content, we welcomed a record number of 2,500 new subscribers in 2021. For that, we would like to thank you very much.

An eventful year lies ahead with the world-class horticultural exhibition Floriade Expo 2022 opening in April in Almere, the Netherlands. Angers is recognised as one of the greenest cities in France; it will host the International Horticultural Congress (IHC) in August 2022. “Live the Garden Life” is a cheery New Year’s Resolution, and it’s also the Canadian Garden Council’s call-to-action kickstarting its momentous Year of the Garden (YOTG)/Année du Jardin 2022 – the first of its kind in the world I hope that 2022 will be a mild year for every one of you. Mild in that heavy snowfall and frost will not block the road to export markets and further increase your energy costs, which are already skyrocketing. Mild in the context of the new Omicron variant that hopefully will turn out to be a more benign form of the virus. Finally, always bearing in mind that for all the disruption, lockdowns, economic losses, there is much distress, pain and grief among the family and friends of the 5,400,000 who have lost their lives in the pandemic so far.

FLORACULTURE INTERNATIONAL JANUARY 2022

JANUARY 2022 VOLUME 32 NUMBER 1

CONTENT

COVER STORY 08

FLORIADE EXPO 2022 World-class Hortus Hollandicus branches out after ten years of preparation

FEATURES 14

GREENOVATION OR FRUSTRATION? Award-winning Bernhard Nurseries has the answer

14 16

GREEN MARKETING Canadians encouraged to ‘Live the Garden Life’

EXPO 2021 YANGZHOU The closing ceremony

TECH AND GROWING MEDIA Measuring = Knowing if you know what you are measuring

OPF MEXICO 2021 Plenty of international trade opportunity

BELARUS IMPORTS Russian flowers receive major impetus as Belarus lifts tax exemptions for international suppliers

USA: PREDICTIONS FOR THE NEW YEAR America’s young home buyers will heighten demand for “flowers, shrubs and trees”

GROWING MEDIA Advanced substrate boosts industry green credentials

VOICES 04 07

FROM THE EDITOR BREXIT: ONE YEAR LATER

IN EVERY ISSUE 06 36 39

WORLD NEWS THE GREEN CITY POST SAVE THE DATE

FloraCulture International (FCI) is an independent trade magazine with the largest circulation for a world publication of its kind. FCI is published for the ornamental horticulture industry by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH). It is published 11 times per year worldwide. Editorial Team: Rachel Anderson, Eugene Gerden,Ron van der Ploeg, Dr Audrey Timm, Rachel Wakefield. Contact: info@floracultureinternational. com. Address: FloraCulture International, Horticulture House, Chilton, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RN, United Kingdom. Editor: Ron van der Ploeg, ron@floracultureinternational.com Worldwide Advertising Office: Angie Duffree, angie@floracultureinternational.com T. +31 6 403 277 35. Magazine designer: Rachel Wakefield. Cover image: Floriade Expo 2022 - Floating Forest. AIPH ©2022 FloraCulture International magazine. All rights reserved. Publisher is not liable for the content of the advertisements. Photographs by permission of copyright owners.

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WORLD NEWS 6

NETHERL ANDS

Dutch Corsos added to UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) The coveted UNESCO status aims at safeguarding the Corso practice, its intrinsic values, knowledge and skills. A Corso (which derives from the Italian Corso or avenue) is a parade of floats (or boats) decorated with flowers, fruit, vegetables and, in some cases, people in costumes. Bands and performers often accompany the parade. A Corso is a competition: the float judged best by the jury wins a prize. Typical Corsos use flowers, including tulips, hyacinths and daffodils in the spring and dahlias in August and September. There is also a fruit Corso held in Tiel. Many corsos also feature vegetables, reeds, bark, grass, seeds, plants and other decorative flowers. Dutch corsos are not afraid of rejuvenating themselves; 1997 saw the inaugural edition of Varend Corso; a floral flotilla that each year sails through Westland, Midden-Delfland, Schiedam, Vlaardingen, Maassluis, Rijswijk, The Hague and the beautiful city of Delft. Corsos occur worldwide, but ‘Corso culture’ is at its strongest in the Netherlands. About 30 different parades are held annually in the country, of various sizes and characters. There are very small, local parades, but the Netherlands also hosts the world’s longest flower parades. Some also take place

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at night and are illuminated. The biggest parades have floats that are 20 metres long and 10 metres high, often with moving parts. One float can contain up to 500,000 dahlia flowers. Hundreds of volunteers decorate each float with flowers during the last hectic days before the parade. Corso culture is about much more than the parade alone. Groups of friends or communities often spend months preparing their floats. Having a drink or meal together after working on the floats and organising regular parties is an integral part of it all. The sense of social cohesion and contributing to a feeling of solidarity is often people’s main reason for taking part. Each Corso has its construction groups or neighbourhoods which build floats and plant and maintain flower fields together. The size of these groups varies from ten or so people to several hundred. In the Netherlands, an estimated 75,000 volunteers are actively involved in the parades. Corso events in the past have attracted more than 1,500,000 visitors from the Netherlands and abroad every year. An estimated 2,000,000 viewers watch live broadcasts.

Mikaël Mercier won the Garden Retail Personality of the Year. FRANCE

Celebrating the best in French garden retail at the 36th Graines d’Or French media company Media Jardin Groupe J announced the 2021 Graines d’Or Awards winners during a glittering awards ceremony at the Hôtel InterContinental Paris le Grand on 2 December. The 36th edition of the awards saw multiple garden retailers and retailing giants accepting awards in different categories, with garden centre chain Trufaut reigning supreme in many categories. Outgoing Val’Hor president Mikaël Mercier won the Personality of the Year award. Hosting the awards was Carole Tolila, who, together with Stéphane Marie, presents France’s popular television gardening and advice show Silence ça Pousse. Tolila invited Media Jardin Groupe J director Jean Michel Joannes to explain why his prepared speech about togetherness had become less reasonable hour by hour. “Amid concerns about the spread of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, three major garden centres chains have cancelled tonight’s participation in the ceremony, and others followed suit.” Joannes said he dearly missed their presence and thanked all contestants for their hard work and achievements. Subsequently, Tolila presented awards in different categories, with the Truffaut name mentioned several times. In the garden centre buyers of garden materials and garden centre buyers of garden decoration materials, Truffaut ’s purchasers Serge Briet and Philippe Gibert won the first prize. Briet also earned the overall title of Garden Centre Buyer of the Year.

Outgoing Val’Hor President and a grower of acidophilic plants in Guiclan (Brittany) Mikaël Mercier won the Garden Retail Personality of the Year award. Putting the seal on a year of exceptional professional achievement and in recognition for his hard work, perseverance and determination with which he guided France’s ornamental horticulture industry through the pandemic. Val Hor’s newly elected President Catherine Muller took to the stage to present Truffaut with the Garden Centre of the Year award in the living plants category. Muller said that every winner is a credit to ornamental horticulture in France. She adds, this year France was blooming in a film starring Catherine Frot, who plays a rose breeder in La Fine Fleur, the movie that premiered in June this year. Finally, for the 13th consecutive year, the Graines d’Or grand prize went to Truffaut, which shared the award with Jardiland as both companies finished ex aequo – equal footing.

VO I C ES

Jonathan Whittemore, Head of Production and Procurement at Johnsons of Whixley, a wholesale plant nursery based in Kirk Hammerton, Whixley (near York), North Yorkshire, talks to FCI about the changes that have happened in his organisation since Brexit.

t costs us £210,000 more in 2021 than in 2020 to bring in the loads that we bring in from the EU – and all that cost is associated directly with Brexitrelated bureaucracy. We made sure that we kept quite a close track of what we were spending this year to be pretty confident of that figure. Of that £210,000, about £150,000 is spent on plant health-associated costs in the EU. And that’s all concerning phytosanitary certificates and inspections. We import all types of plants except houseplants. Many young plants for our production come from the EU, and we bring in finished plants for sale into the landscape amenity market in containers – anything from two litres to 20 litres mainly. And we also bring in seedlings, transplants and trees of various sizes. We have had to employ another two people in our office to handle the compliance side of things that we didn’t have to deal with before. This staff is running things as basic as sending suppliers lists of exactly what we are collecting to ensure that we are all on the same page regarding what’s coming into the UK. There’s also the contact with customs agents in the EU and the UK to make sure that everything’s in line – there’s a greater level of bureaucracy that needs to be covered off with the ferry companies. And then, of course, there’s more paperwork for lorry drivers to cart around – a lot more responsibility for our lorry drivers and sub-contractors. Thankfully we haven’t seen the impact of the lorry driver shortage, other than through increased costs. We’ve had to increase the salaries of our drivers, and our main haulage contractor has

increased its charges significantly over the last six months. Brexit has put a strain on our relationships with suppliers in the EU. They are now handling at a much greater bureaucracy level, so they are much busier than previously. And that means that they have less time to spend on the core functions than they once had – things as basic as giving us prices. The people in the EU trying to price up future jobs haven’t got the time that we might need them to have. Things like taking photos for the customers, who are buying trees, and want to see photographs of those trees. But our suppliers are busy filling out paperwork, creating paperwork – they haven’t got the time to get out into the fields to be taking pictures of those trees. And obviously, that has a direct impact on our relationship with our customers and what we can offer them. We haven’t been subject to delays at the ports in terms of the time it takes to bring trees and other plants here. People talked about a fear of delays at the ports, getting stuck at customs. We haven’t seen that but what we are seeing is that our timescales have lengthened, probably threefold. So, we used to place a new order on day one and collect it on day two; we are now collecting it from our supplier on day five. And that’s a direct result of the processes that we now need to go through for plant health and

all the other boxes that we need to tick to get plants through the ports. Concerning the new legislation coming into force in 2022, a lot of it won’t affect us because we were subject to phytosanitary checks right from day one. There isn’t much that we will need to do in terms of what will change. There are changes to the safety and security declarations around transport, which means we had to change what we are doing straight away. There’s also a slight change in how the important declarations need to be raised in that you need to have the PEACH reference on the import declaration. Still, we’ve already got that covered – it’s just a slight change in the order in which we are doing things, an additional corner on a spreadsheet that we send to our customs agent.. it’s not particularly onerous. Concerning the introduction of BCPs, it isn’t easy to anticipate what that will be like. We don’t fully know what to expect. But one of the big issues that we’ve got is that, up to now, we have dealt with people whom we have already dealt with since before Brexit. In terms of us bringing lorries into the UK, we’ve dealt with the ferry companies, and we know the people who work for those companies. In terms of the plant health checks, we deal with APHA plant health officers, and that’s fine. But when we get to goods being inspected at

BCPs – and whether that be a port or slightly further inland – there will be another entity in the middle. So, our ferry companies will bring our lorries in and if the plants need to be inspected by APHA, it’s the port authorities who will be responsible for taking the goods from our lorry and presenting them to APHA for inspection. We have no relationship with the port authorities, and the port authorities are not engaging in any conversations. So, we don’t know how competent they are going to be, and we don’t know what they are going to charge us, we don’t know how responsive they will be to any requests or enquiries – they might not engage with us at all. And that could make it very tricky. I know that when you have conversations with people in the industry, they are concerned about what APHA will do and how they will handle the goods. But I’m not worried about that. We’ve seen APHA do a great job for us. I’m concerned about getting the plants from the ferry to the point at which APHA will be inspected. That’s the big unknown – and the cost is unknown as well because the port authorities have not engaged with us to tell us how much they will be charging us for the privilege of moving our goods. Brexit keeps us on our toes. But that has been one of the positives of Brexit. We’ve been in such a state of flux for the last 18 months that we now have a rather dynamic workforce. They are used to change and far more comfortable with change than before – and it’s become much more typical for them. And that’s a real advantage in any business – if you can have a workforce that is used to change, it makes it so much easier to deal with what’s put in front of you. So that has been a real positive for us.

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F LO R I A D E E X P O 20 22

WORLD-CLASS H OUT; NEW ROUTE

Floriade opens in the Netherlands on 14 April 2022; the AIPH-approved A1 World Horticultural Expo will demonstrate to citizens how thriving in a ‘living library of trees and plants’ is more fun, sustainable

AUTHOR: RON VAN DER PLOEG PHOTO CREDITS: FEENSTRA FOTOGRAFIE

and healthier than surviving in a concrete jungle.

loriade is the brand name for this A1WWorld Horticultural Expo, which has occurred in the Netherlands every ten years since the first AIPH-approved Expo in Rotterdam in 1960. The 2022 Floriade site is in Almere, the Netherlands’ eighth-largest city inhabited by a young and fastgrowing multicultural population. The International Horticultural Expo site spans 62ha. The event aims to raise the profile of ornamental horticulture and highlight the importance of trees and plants in making better lives and creating better cities for the future. For Almere, this event is good news as, unfortunately, it is also a city that has experienced bad press in the past. In 2008, for example, a poll among the readers of a Dutch national newspaper crowned Almere as ‘the ugliest city of the Netherlands’, a message which British travel book writer Redmond O’Hanion commented upon ten years later.

DUTCH CALVINISM IS IMPEDING ‘BIG THINKING’ The negativity is not the kind of promotion the organiser and the Expo’s sole shareholder, the city of Almere, would have wished itself.

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Floriade first has to overcome the harsh expectations from the Dutch popular press, tarnishing Floriade’s image. They are historically hostile, reporting endlessly on the 1992 Floriade Zoetermeer, the 2002 Floriade in Haarlemmermeer and the 2012 Floriade in Venlo incurring €5 million, €8million and €9 million losses, respectively. Adding to this are critical questions aimed at the current Floriade board – should it be double staffed, and should the CEO earn the same salary as a minister? These kinds of adverse reporting seem to be rooted in typical Dutch Calvinism, drowning in details and constantly calling for introspection, frugality and modesty.

F LO R I A D E E X P O 20 2 2

HORTUS HOLLANDICUS BRANCHES ES TO SUSTAINABLE GREEN CITIES CLINGING TO BELIEF So, perhaps one of the major accomplishments of the team behind Floriade Expo 2022 so far is that they have clung to their beliefs, to the Expo’s four themes: greening the city, feeding the city, healthying the city, and energising the city. The Floriade team acknowledge that the ten years of preparation have not always been easy, but they are now ready for it. There’s big thinking, long term thinking and – rather unsurprisingly – a good dose of green prose in the Expo’s mission statement. Plants matter to people, to cities, countries and the world. Trees, shrubs and plants can manage adverse weather conditions and climate change through water management, reducing temperatures, cutting pollution and carbon sequestration. What’s more, for us humans, flowers, plants, and trees improve our health and wellbeing and promote economic development. On 13 April 2022, the Dutch King, WillemAlexander - who, contrary to his mother, decided not to bestow royal patronage on Floriade when he became King in 2013 - will cut the ribbon. From that date, the Expo anticipates it will welcome two million visitors by the time it closes on 9 October 2022.

THE HORTICULTURAL CONTENT IS PROSPERING

Hans Bakker is pictured with the Bobbling Forest/Floating Forest in the background. The art installation by ‘Mothership’ consists of 20 recycled sea buoys from the North Sea planted with 20 Dutch elm trees. These floating trees provide extra greening, compensation of CO2 and reduction of dust particle matter.

In essence, good virtues but also an obstacle for ‘big picture thinking’. The big picture, we all know, is that the planet is warming and continuing on the current path is not an option. That’s why Floriade Expo 2022 aims to address the world’s biggest challenges, such as rapid urbanisation, a growing world population, depletion of natural resources and climate change. There’s a need for sustainability in all walks of life. This Expo’s theme - Growing Green Cities – is one way to demonstrate solutions to the world’s biggest problems and give a massive boost to the ornamental horticultural sector.

Currently, it is less than four months before the grand opening of this ambitious project. CEO Hans Bakker, who joined Floriade on 23 April 2021, tells FCI he feels confident. “The horticultural content is prospering, helped by the wet summer of 2021, all through which the planted trees and plants have established themselves extremely well. Folks from previous Floriade’s tell me that the ‘green component’ of this Expo is in an advanced stage compared to past editions.”

INTERNATIONAL COUNTRY PAVILIONS The presence of international country pavilions mainly contributes to the success of a World Expo, and Floriade is no different. In a letter to the House of Representatives, Dutch agriculture minister Carola Schouten wrote on 2 November 2021 that the country’s agricultural network worldwide helped book the presence of 22 countries.

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F LO R I A D E E X P O 20 22

Upon arrival, visitors will hop on a cable car, providing them with a panoramic overview of the patchwork of the Arboretum’s massive alphabetised planting plots.

Critics may say this number is far from the promised 40 countries. However, from a glass-half-full perspective, 22 countries is a top job considering the massive disruption the pandemic is causing. Bakker says, “Judging from the international talks and negotiations, we remain confident that we can welcome at least 33 countries. We are taking into consideration that this is truly a horticultural show. Not every country has a blooming horticulture industry, which limits the potential of some exhibitors. Next, there will always be countries with tight budgets. Considering that BIE and AIPH regulations stipulate a minimum of 10 countries to deserve the title of World Expo, we are far above target. Which doesn’t mean we will not go the extra mile,

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laboriously working until we have reached the last seven countries. Bhutan has confirmed its presence, which begs the question, how hot is Bhutan’ horticulture? Bakker asserts, “Some countries are in the grey area; they have a horticultural aspiration or don’t want to miss the opportunity to promote themselves at a World Expo. In the case of Floriade, this means that they need to play towards one of the Expo’s sub-themes. “The case of Bhutan is interesting as the kingdom in the Himalayas aims to covert its agriculture to organic agriculture to increase productivity and farmer’s income while safeguarding its environment. At Floriade, Bhutan, known as ‘the happiest country’ will explain why it prioritises Gross National Happiness above Gross Domestic Product.”

F LO R I A D E E X P O 20 2 2

The horticultural content is prospering, helped by the wet summer of 2021, all through which the planted trees and plants have established themselves extremely well.

THE CLUBHOUSE OF THE INDUSTRY

VISITORS WILL LEARN HOW GREENHOUSES HELP BUILD CIRCULAR AGRICULTURE

The Greenhouse will be one of the places where the exhibition reflects its commitment to sustainability. This giant glasshouse has 10,000m2 floor space and a 170 metres long boardwalk offering views overlooking gerberas in all colours of the rainbow, tasty strawberries and bell peppers and amazing anthuriums. Inside, visitors will learn how greenhouses help build circular agriculture, combat climate change, increase biodiversity and feed the ever-growing world population. Bakker calls it the clubhouse of the Dutch

The benefit of using a square 800 by 800 metres grid and placing it on top of existing features such as woodland, water, island and a highway, is comprehensive. It provides a geometric regularity that visitors will easily understand and navigate around.

greenhouse industry, offering an eclectic mix of B2B and B2C. He says it is “Inspired by London’s Crystal Palace from 1851. The Greenhouse is where the industry comes together for congresses and events.” He adds, “The venue equally serves to increase knowledge and close the gap between producers and end consumers on sustainable practices, innovative greenhouse technology and outcomes.”

LIAISING WITH END CONSUMERS In the horticultural supply chain, the retailer - florist, garden centre, supermarket or DIY store sells directly to the consumer, with brand building driving purchases. Despite the retail sector’s relatively low interest in Floriade, Bakker – who previously served as CEO of Amsterdam RAI and by association understands the industry inside out thanks to HortiFair and GreenTech - thinks Floriade offers producers a not-to-be-missed opportunity to liaise with the end consumer. This opportunity is also because the boundaries between B2B and B2C in ornamental horticulture are increasingly blurring. “Growers benefit from showcasing their products and connecting directly with the consumer. Remember that flowers, plants and trees are often just one of the various products on their shelves for retailers. Producers have much pride and knowledge to engage with end consumers effectively. “Consumers will start to actively seek a product they have spotted at Floriade and will lead retailers to stock the product in response, something in marketing terms is called a pull effect.”

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VISITOR DEMOGRAPHICS This will be the seventh Floriade. Previous host cities of Floriade include Rotterdam (1960), Amsterdam (1972 and 1982), Zoetermeer (1992), Haarlemmermeer (2002) and Venlo (2012). An anticipated two million visitors, at least 72 per cent of whom will be from home and 28 per cent from abroad, will explore the exhibition. Visiting from abroad will be primarily Germans, Brits and Belgians. In terms of visitor demographics, Bakker notes that the most significant chunk of visitors will fall within the 55-65 age bracket, accounting for 30 per cent of visitor numbers. Bakker explains, “The number one target group is the people who visit a garden centre every other week or month. Floriade is a mega destination garden centre for this green-fingered type of visitors. The second

target group includes younger people in the Millenials and Generation Z cohort and, who on social media, are emerging as the sustainability generation. Floriade Academy is a programme to connect students to the natural world and will see, for example, 65,000 school children visiting the Expo grounds.”

THE WOW FACTOR True sustainability is about a different mindset, which encompasses a good dose of sensitivity, values and morality, perhaps not the best ingredients for creating a wow factor? Bakker says, “I reckon one million bulbs in bloom, and a giant living library of trees and plants will automatically make a marvellous experience for visitors and will give it the wow factor. The six-month Expo programme has a packed cultural and culinary programme schedule of of music, dance, theatre, and excellent food on offer daily.”

A SPECIAL EXPERIENCE Walking through Floriade will be undoubtedly a memorable experience. Dutch architect Winy Maas deserves the credit for a comprehensive and ‘systemic’ design. The benefit of using a square 800 by 800 metres grid and placing it on top of existing features such as woodland, water, island and a highway, is comprehensive. It provides a geometric regularity that visitors will easily understand and navigate around. Famed landscape designer Niek Roozen from the Netherlands put his signature upon a bold planting scheme with the Green City Arboretum as a shining example of the city’s green development. Floriade’s botanical collection will contain 750 tree genera, 90,000 shrubs and 200,000 perennials planted in alphabetical order. Another highlight, in particular for fans of the white Sissinghurst gardens in the UK, is the Flower Belt, a 3.2km gauntlet planted with green and white coloured and pollinator-friendly blooms. Think hedera helix ‘Arborescens’, buddleia, and roses.

LEAVING A SERIOUS LEGACY

Aeres horticultural high school’s most noticeable feature is a green wall covering its facade.

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Once Floriade finishes, the Green City Arboretum will become part of Almere’s newest residential area, Hortus. “Floriade Expo 2022 wants to leave a serious legacy by laying the foundation for a new housing zone,” stresses Bakker. He continues, “Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to build several eco-homes to incorporate them in the Expo. But the underground infrastructure is there, as well as the 14-storey residential tower block Flores, a horticultural high school, Flevoland’s Food Forum and a care home. Connecting the city centre with Hortus are nine bio-based bridges, unique in the world.” Do you need a Floriade to build a new housing site? Bakker elaborates, “The Floriade site is a protected nature area. Preserving trees in development takes time, good design, communication, and money. I am convinced that without Floriade, you would have needed an additional 20 years to develop the Hortus site.” In a country suffering from a tenacious and precarious housing crisis, naturally, there will be much delight among the 700 to 800 lucky people who will be Hortus’ newest residents.

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ALMERE

The Flores tower has a special facade that artistically translates the Floriade arboretum. During Floriade it will have various commercial functions. After the Expo, the tower will be converted into a residential tower.

IT’S A TOUGH JOB. FORTUNATELY, MY HAIR STARTED TO TURN GREY WAY BEFORE I ACCEPTED THE POSITION.

However, the truth is that during its ten-year journey of preparations, environmentalists have argued that Hortus is commercial exploitation at the end of the day, harming a natural community that was previously left untouched. Calling Hortus a sustainable development, they think, is a farce and primarily serves to ease our minds and feel good about ourselves.

FLORIADE IS NOT A THEME PARK Bakker emphasises that Floriade is also about fun. Upon arrival, visitors will hop on a cable car, providing them with a panoramic overview of the patchwork of the Arboretum’s massive alphabetised planting plots. From Acer to Zelkova, from Azara to Zenobia, plants matter to the planet, its people, and its cities. A series of ‘fun facts’ will explain how each tree can help improve citizens’ health and wellbeing and fight off the impact of climate change. Bakker says, “Past Floriade Expos decidated 80 per cent of their space to trees, shrubs, plants and flowers and 20 per cent to issues such as feeding the world sustainably. “The 2022 edition, however, will have 45 per cent of its surface planted with greenery, with the remainder touching on feeding the city, healthy city and energysing the city.” Floriade is not a theme park, Bakker insists. “There’s much content to read, understand and explore. In its Biotopia pavilion, Germany will highlight the delicate balance between man and nature. Japan will combine a traditional farmhouse structure with new technologies. And Indonesia’s country pavilion will tell the intriguing city story of sinking Jakarta and what urgent actions are needed to avoid losing 25 per cent of the capital’s area, which will submerge within 30 years without intervention. It’s a problem for many costal megacities.”

There is no better place to learn more about the love and hate relationship between the Dutch and water than Almere. Floriade Expo 2022 sits four metres below sea level on the land reclaimed from Ijsselmeer lake in the 1950s and 1960s. Bakker notes, “There is a nice anecdote about the recreational Weerwater lake on whose banks Floriade is partially on. First, they reclaimed the land from the sea by taking out the water. Eventually, city planners realised that water is an important design element and brought in the water again - hence the Dutch literal Weerwater, which English translated means WaterAgain.” The young city of Almere completed its first house in 1976, and the city has currently 217.000 inhabitants. During his onboarding programme, Bakker was in the city centre several times. He agrees that it may lack the traditional Dutch architectural charm but features modern installations and several good restaurants, making a pitch for Floriade’s top restaurants and master chefs at the same time.

PERFECT TIMING Months of lockdown and travel restrictions have led many citizens to appreciate the importance of nature much more. As such, Floriade has never been a better time to inspire households and city governments to green their lives and visit Floriade. So, Bakker believes the appetite is there. How courageous was it to take up his role as CEO of a €40 million expo that was plagued by escalating budgets? Bakker, who displays a good sense of humour, “Well, it was not the plan to do so.” More seriously, he continues, “The thing is: Floriade is greater than the sum of its parts. Budget is a matter of how you calculate. Anticipating the building of 800 houses by 20 years is not a minor thing. “The media tells me that the benefits of a residential area and Floriade is like comparing apples and pears. Why should it? “Legally, a real estate developer, a city and an event should all work in tandem. This reality does not mean I am not keeping an eagle eye on costs. To date, I am confident that the Expo will not cost much more than planned. “I am not saying we will hit our target but it is not impossible.” Is the lack of headline sponsors creating a major headache? Bakker notes, “We have several sponsors, but to date, we haven’t caught the big fish if that’s what you are asking.” The impact of Covid-19 is playing against Floriade and makes it hard for companies to say yes with certainty. “It’s a tough job. Fortunately, my hair started to turn grey way before I accepted the position. So it would not become any greyer,” concludes Bakker.

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C L I M AT E C H A N G E A N D S U STA I N A B I L I T Y

Bram Bernhard took to the Holland House stage at Trade Fair Aalsmeer on Wednesday, 3 November 2021, to accept the Greenovation award from Royal FloraHolland boss Stefan van Schilfgaarde.

GREENOVATION OR FRUSTRATION? BERNHARD NURSERIES HAS THE ANSWER Dutch-based ornamentals grower Bernhard Nurseries recently won the 2021 Royal FloraHolland Greenovation Award. While Bram Bernhard sees the prestigious prize as a boost for the company’s

AUTHOR: RON VAN DER PLOEG PHOTOS: BIANCA FENNE

geothermal and solar projects, he does not always feel rightly rewarded for helping cut emissions.

ernhard Nurseries is a third-generation cut rose, potted phalaenopsis and bedding plant grower in Flevoland, the Netherlands’ ‘newest’ province, mainly created on post-WWII land reclaimed from the sea. The company grows three million phalaenopsis in 12cm pots for the higher end of the market, a wide range of five million bedding and patio plants, plus 25 million stems of ‘Avalanche+’ roses under a combined 25ha of glass. At Bernhard Nurseries, run by brothers Bram and Simon Bernhard, a high level of sustainability (and thus a minimal footprint on the environment) is achieved through several operational practices. Such

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as integrated pest management systems eliminating the need for chemicals and solar electricity production combined with geothermal energy used to heat the nursery’s greenhouses where Elegant phalaenopsis occupy pride of place.

AN EXTREMELY COMPLEX ENDEAVOUR Set against a backdrop of applause, Bram Bernhard took to the Holland House stage at Trade Fair Aalsmeer on Wednesday, 3 November 2021, to accept the Greenovation award from auction boss Stefan van Schilfgaarde. Royal FloraHolland’s annual accolade recognises horticultural companies which have demonstrated exceptional

leadership and achievements in the field of sustainability. Two months later, Bernhard still feels honoured that he received the award, seeing it as a recognition for something he calls “an extremely complex endeavour”. He references the needed permits, red tape, various strict regulations, and the debate on nitrogen oxides (Nox) emissions. “For all the bureaucracy, we managed to get the project done and this award crowns many years of hard work and perseverance.” There is no doubt that his continued efforts not always have been easy. At times, society and government seemed reluctant to embrace geothermal energy fully. Bram notes, “In 1959, Exxon Mobil and Shell discovered Europe’s

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largest gas field in Groningen - the Netherlands’ northern province. However, after many decades of gas production, the ground started to sink, provoking earthquakes. Then, in 2010, the oil pipeline break in the Gulf of Mexico caused people to be even more critical of mining, which the geothermal industry is also regulated under. Personally, I think the regulations are too severe as geothermal is relatively innocent; in essence, you pump up one cubic meter of hot water and, cooled down, reinject it into the ground.” A recent study by Dutch horticultural media outlet Vakblad voor de Bloemisterij found that out of the country’s 25 geothermal projects, an unknown number are experiencing problems. Either they don’t run at full capacity or have come to a complete standstill, in one case due to fears for seismic activity. However, Bram has decided to keep his feet firmly on the ground. He says, “Geothermal projects run under many different conditions and are difficult to judge individually. From what I’ve heard is about one site in the province of Limburg where there have been micro earthquakes at 4km depth. At our site, we pump up water from 2 km and reinject it, so seismic activity is unthinkable and if there is any they are too small to be felt. And fortunately instead of small portions of polluting oil, the well produces a tiny bit of natural gas as a byproduct, but that accounts only for three per cent of the heat produced.”

BEING LESS DEPENDENT ON A VOLATILE ENERGY MARKET The Bernhard brothers started to look into the potential of alternatives to gas ten years ago. “At the time gas prices had soared on the back of the oil price increase which exceeded $140 dollar a barrel in 2008. By 2013, we had emerged from the economic crisis and wanted to be less dependent on a energy market influenced by multiple external factors, that is political, social, and climate as well as supply and demand.” It turned out geothermal energy presented good opportunities in the Flevoland area. So, the Bernhards and their neighbour, bell pepper grower Tas, worked out a plan to establish a geothermal well and started a 50/50 venture, Aardwarmte Combinatie Luttelgeest (ACL).

BERNHARD NURSERIES: QUICK FACTS - PART 1

One production well and two reinjection wells (with two reinjection wells, there is less back pressure and less energy needed), drilled to a depth of 1,800 metres, operate together in the setup.

One production well and two reinjection wells (with two reinjection wells, there is less back pressure and less energy needed), drilled to a depth of 1,800 metres, operate together in the setup. To further explain, groundwater at a temperature of between 78- 80°C is pumped up, passed through a heat exchanger to warm up water in a closed-loop connected to the greenhouses and then returned to the ground - a thick pocket of sand and sandstone- via the reinjection wells. The heat of the Earth increases with depth; a phenomenon described as the geothermal gradient. This upward heat flux varies across the globe but in the Netherlands tends to be around 33°C/per kilometre. “Assuming an average outside ground temperature of 12°C, we expect the water to be 78°C,” says Bram, who is the spearhead of the project. At the same time, his brother Simon prefers to focus on the technical aspects of crop production.

THE PREREQUISITES FOR A SOLID BUSINESS CASE The water in the nursery loop is heated to 75°C and arrives first at Bernhard’s site growing potted phalaenopsis, a crop with the

The Bram and Simon Bernhard and their partners, Asia and Luzan, run four nurseries plus a transportation company. The nurseries combined span an area of 25ha. Simon’s wife Luzan is a plant hunter and IPM expert in orchids. Asia steers the organisation managing human resources. Asia is initially from Poland, which is handy as many nursery workers are Polish too. The Bernhard family has deep horticultural roots, starting from the brothers’ granddad, who grew vegetables and flowers in Sloten, south of Amsterdam. Bram Bernhard remembers, “He began as a horse manure trader supplying vegetable growers in the Amsterdam area and Sloten, which back then was a horticultural heartland. A nice anecdote is that he used to collect the manure from farmers and Artis Zoo. In the 1950s, my grandfather expanded the business by buying my uncle’s nursery.” The brothers’ father Bram senior joined the company in 1960 when it primarily produced cucumbers. However, when his crop started to suffer extensive damage from the dreaded root-knot nematodes, Bram senior decided to try his luck with cut roses in 1963. In the 1970s, Amsterdam continued to expand into the surrounding environment leaving the Bernhards little space for further business development. So in 1972, Bernhard senior decided to move to Luttelgeest, where he was happy to find some nice plots of square land that was fertile and easily manageable.

Three generations Bernhard. Left to right Bram jr, Bram sr. and his grandson William, and Simon Bernhard.

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highest heat demand. According to Bernhard, the minimal requirement for a solid business case for wells at 2-3km depth is at least 50ha and largely depends on crop type. “We grow orchids requiring much warmth and little lighting, the neighbour’s bell peppers don’t need too much heat and use no lighting. Orchids need around 80cu m natural gas, in turn bell peppers need 30cu m natural gas but account for a signficantly vaster area of production.” It is best for the well to produce in a continuous flow for technical and economic reasons. That’s why a critical mass of the production area is crucial. Bram explains, “We expect to pump up between 300 – 400cu m water per hour. This amount can heat up to 100ha during winter and double that area in summer. That’s why we strive to have 100ha because we want to make maximum use of the system.”

warm 100 ha greenhouses with anticipated savings of 25,000,000cu m of natural gas, equivalent to the amount needed to heat around 22,000 homes. There is interest from five more growers, and there is potential for connecting five more growers within a 10km radius in the future. However, Bernhard is quick to add, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. “We don’t want to be promising the moon. The wellheads are now ready for testing during the last week of November.”

FOR NOW, NO SDE+ SUBSIDY

A THREE-TIERED HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEM The hydrothermal system is three-tiered. The production well can operate at 50 or 100 per cent capacity, pumping up either 200cu m or 400cu m per hour. Bram explains, “If we need to go at full throttle, a heat pump increases the capacity by 50 per cent. So in winter, it is a three-tiered system, in spring and autumn two-tiered and in summer single-tiered. The project is of course not 100 per cent climate neutral because you always need natural gas as backup, for example if the geothermal project is shut down for maintenance. But 99 per cent is possible.” The €30 million heat plant could

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The company employs 200 full-time staff, of which 70 are permanent employees from the Noordoostpolder region.

JANUARY 2022

The cost of geothermal energy tech has gone down in the last decade and is becoming more economically viable for individuals and companies. However, Berhard stresses that geothermal heat only offers growers protection from rocketing gas prices if Government support is secured. “The Dutch government subsidy under the SDE+, or sustainable energy promotion, scheme is to encourage further wind, solar and geothermal heat projects and to level the difference between conventional heat cost price and the cost price of geothermal heat. Heat from geothermal energy has to compete with heat produced from burning natural gas and it is cheaper to heat a greenhouse with gas. “That is, until a worsening global energy crisis pushed prices up to catastrophic levels,” he says while keeping an eagle eye on the gas and electricity price index on his mobile. The cost of energy was cheap when the Covid-19 pandemic nearly caused the world economy to a standstill. Almost two years on, the situation is dramatically different. Bram elaborates, “Over the past few weeks, the price of one cubic metre natural gas has been between 90 cents and one euro. I would have never foreseen that my gas bill would be at least six times higher than the five-year average. Break even for geothermal is at a gas price of about 34 to 40 cents per cu m, so I don’t need to explain that we will be not be entitled to the SDE subsidy which is based on the gas price.”

Solving the resulting electricity shortage problem is retention basin.

JUMPING TO CONCLUSIONS He finds it somewhat frustrating that people jump to conclusions assuming that geothermal will leave him exempt from cost price issues. He says, “Trust me, I have them too now that there’s no SDE+ subsidy. Overall, there is reason to be concerned about the rising gas price. In the short term, a portion of growers will work with fixed energy deals but there is no one who hedges his natural gas price for ten years. This situation will inevitably leading to rising cost pressures in the long run. The gas price’s five-year average was 15 cent and is expected to be 25 cent in the long run, putting horticultural business under enormous pressure. Differentiating yourself from the competitor is one of the solutions for the Dutch ornamentals industry and carbon neutrality is a way to achieve this.”

VISION AND STRATEGY ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED What’s missing in the debate is a long term strategy from sector bodies such as LTO NL and the Dutch government. Bram Bernhard urges, “We need vision for the ten years ahead when we will still be in need of clean natural gas whether to serve as back up, transitioning time.

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NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN OR...

s a ‘floatovoltaic’ system in the nurseries’ water

Truth is that all this is discouraging greenhouse growers from making their production more sustainable.” Equally discouraging, Bram says, is ODE (Profit Renewable Energy), a Dutch energy tax in addition to the average energy tax and used for the subsidies with which renewable energy projects are paid. “If the goal is towards no more gas, than you should not increase the tax on electricity.”

FLOATOVOLTAIC Bernhard Nurseries aims for carbon neutrality, meaning radical changes to how the company produces its plants and flowers and consumes energy. “We are fully electrifying our greenhouses. CHP will be put on standby and replaced by geothermal energy, and solving the resulting electricity shortage problem is a ‘floatovoltaic’ system in the nurseries’ water retention basin. This floating solar system resides 50cms atop the stagnant water, incorporating 50,000 solar panels and producing 15 million kW per year. This sum compares to 3,750 households that yearly consumes around 4000kW. The plan is to sell our excess power back into the grid in summer while buying electricity in winter, simply because I have no match with my solar: when I need solar to light my crop in winter, the panels are not working.”

Bram freely admits that if you asked him to do the same thing again today, he would need to think twice. “But hey, you came to visit me on a day when the gasprice is displaying 96 cents and geothermal is not yet up and running. All kidding aside, it’s just that the cost price, the labour and the energy in the Netherlands are simply too high to remain competitive. Becoming climate neutral, will allow us to gain a unique position in the marketplace. Solar panel will provide us the necessary kW for our nursery and geothermal will make gas redundant. Automation is next on our list and LED lighting. Hopefully we will be able to switch to LED lighting only within three years especially now that more recently researchers have finally cracked the right LED recipe in cut rose cultivation. Also on the positive side: geothermal heat is so technically advanced and so powerful to see. This project has made me realise how powerful the Earth is.” Speaking of rose cultivation, he says that fortunately, the pricing for his ‘Avalanche+’ roses and potted phalaenopsis is good. “In phalaenopsis, lower production volumes and product innovation have created a much more balanced market, while demand for his roses is equally strong now that the wedding and event sector worldwide is picking up. Without the energy crisis, I would have compensated my losses incurred during the early pandemic.” He ends by saying that he would welcome more realistic views, honesty and a gradual approach to exit the energy crisis. “Left wing politicians cannot stop talking about energy transition, and in certain ways the sustainability movement is elitist. My wife is Polish-born. She tells me that it’s business as usual in Ukraine, where the trucks continue to line up at the coal mines. Now that winter is around the corner, people are not willing to stay in an ice cold home. Of course we need sustainability, and yes we need to lower our carbon footprint. But this is just bad energy policy, trying to transition too fast. Mass killing our economy will not bring us any further forward.”

BERNHARD NURSERIES: QUICK FACTS - PART 2

Bernhard Transport provides daily temperature-controlled flowers and plants delivery as a side business.

In 1972, the Bernhards completed their first one-hectare glasshouse to grow roses and gerberas. It was a busy time with one part of the business still near Amsterdam and the headquarters in Luttelgeest. Ultimately, in 1986, the Bernhards sold their Amsterdam nursery to focus on and expand the nursery in Luttelgeest solely. The company grows a wide range of three million pot phalaenopsis, five million bedding and patio plants and 25 million stems of ‘Avalanche+’ roses. Bernhard Transport provides daily temperature-controlled flowers and plants delivery as a side business. A team of dedicated truck drivers undertake a daily trip to and from the auctions. The company employs 200 full-time staff, of which 70 are permanent employees from the Noordoostpolder region. Simon joined the company in 1987 at the dawn of a new era marked by automation, soilless cultivation and innovative greenhouse technology such as grading machines and a CHP plant. Bram junior joined the company in 1998. In that same year, Simon started his wholly-owned rose nursery at Lindeweg. In 2007, the brothers started growing potted orchids together, significantly expanding the business when in 2011, they added 11ha from the sale of a neighbour’s nursery. The brothers are working hard to leave a positive footprint on their environment. After the recent Greenovation Award, their solar and geothermal energy efforts are beginning to gain notice from their peers.

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GREEN MARKE TING

APPRECIATING CANADA’S HORTICULTURAL HERITAGE “Live the Garden Life” is a cheery New Year’s Resolution, and it’s also the Canadian Garden Council’s call-to-action kickstarting its momentous Year of the Garden (YOTG)/

AUTHOR: RACHEL ANDERSON. PHOTOS: CANADIAN GARDEN COUNCIL

Année du Jardin 2022 – the first of its kind in the world

year-long series of events and social media activities are in store for Canadians as its YOTG 2022 campaign celebrates the centennial of the country’s ornamental horticulture sector. It all started in a burst of post-war activity in 1922, the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) began, and so, too, did the Canadian Horticulture Council (representing fresh produce). That same year also saw the first Royal Winter Agricultural Fair in Toronto. Michael Gauthier is the Canadian Garden Council executive director – a not-for-profit corporation founded in collaboration with the CNLA to promote Canada’s prolific gardeners. He is also the organiser of this yearlong celebration. Gauthier’s experience in major event management has seen him organise Ottawa’s annual Winterlude festival (featuring the world’s longest ice rink); and the annual Canadian Tulip Festival. With YOTG, he explains: “We started thinking: ‘Do we want to organise a big event – or do we want to just position, profile, and support everything that’s happening in what we call the Canadian Garden-Family? So, we opted for the latter approach, and that’s when I

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proposed: ‘Why not proclaim 2022 the Year of the Garden in Canada and make it a year-long celebration?’” Canada’s Garden-Family subsequently declared 2022 The Year of the Garden in March (2021). Three months later the Canadian government officially recognised 2022 as the Year of the Garden via a House of Commons declaration.

FOR CANADIANS OF ALL AGES Gauthier says: “YOTG 2022 will mark an important period for Canadians of all ages to learn more about growing, enjoy and experiencing gardens, and all the vital quality-of-life benefits they provide. It will also celebrate how gardens made it easier to deal with the pandemic.” He adds: “We want Canadians to embrace this campaign and make it easy for them to participate and contribute to building back better and greener post-pandemic. We also want all the gardens in Canada – private and public – to be a part of it. Every Canadian who has a garden can sign up to be a YOTG 2022 Celebration Garden.” Canadians are being encouraged to Live the Garden Life in whatever fashion they can feasibly do so – be that, for example, planting a vegetable patch, visiting a garden attraction, or installing a colourful window box on their balcony. Encouraging Canadians to ‘Live the Garden Life’ is one of the three main streams of the campaign, supported

by founding partners Scotts, Premier Tech, Proven Winners and other industry sponsors and partners. The second stream celebrates the country’s horticulture heritage while the third focuses on leaving a legacy which, said Gauthier, “will make the GardenFamily strong and better positioned in future.”

CANADA’S HORTICULTURE HERITAGE With the country’s horticulture heritage in mind, Canadians are being encouraged to ‘plant red’ (with red being its well-known national colour) to show their Canadian garden pride. This glowing public spirit will offer growers and garden retailers, for instance, many promotional opportunities as they inform customers of red plants and bulbs they

Michel Gauthier is executive director of the Canadian Garden Council and one of the driving forces behind Canada’s Year of the Garden (YOTG) campaign.

GREEN MARKE TING

Niagara Parks’ Botanical Gardens is located on the scenic Niagara Parkway and the Great Gorge, just a 10-minute drive north of Niagara Falls.

could purchase. Gauthier says: “When you look at the Garden-Family, there are many branches to the tree – and we want to embrace everyone. We want them to celebrate and to look at how they can also engage with this campaign.” In addition to red-coloured plants and petals, The YOTG 2022 will celebrate Canada’s many native plants and provide growers with the opportunity to inform the Canadian public about them. “What is a native plant for those who haven’t discovered them – what are their benefits, and what are the varieties?” suggests Gauthier.

COMMEMORATING AND CROWNING HORTICULTURAL HEROES The campaign is also commemorating Canada’s horticulture heritage through ‘Canada’s 100 Garden Moments,’ highlighting the achievements and leaders who have helped shape Canada’s garden culture. A YOTG 2022 commemorative book is currently in production to profile the country’s garden heritage and celebrate its garden experiences. Moreover, the country’s present ‘Horticulture Heroes’ will be honoured. Canada’s not-for-profit organisations linked to gardening will select their own Canadian Garden Hero, namely, someone in their group who contributes over and above what is required

or crucial to that organisation’s sustainability.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE As part of this special year, the council also wants to ensure that every school in Canada has a garden experience in which its pupils can enjoy nature. “We have 15,000 schools in this country, and we don’t know how many of them have a garden. And there isn’t a place where a teacher, pupil/student or parent can say: ‘I would love my school to have a garden experience – where can I go to get information on this?’ So, we are creating a school garden resource guide.” The garden council is campaigning for every healthcare facility in Canada to have a garden experience that its patients or clients can enjoy. In a similar vein, the council has set up a committee with the Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association that each week will put out a garden therapy invitation to Canadians to suggest: “Why don’t you do this? It will be good for your health.” Furthermore, Canada’s municipalities (towns and cities) have the opportunity to proclaim 2022 as The Year of the Garden in their city. “And we are asking them to celebrate our National Garden Day on June 18 and to make a commitment to be a garden-friendly city,” says Gauthier.

He continues: “We already have 20 cities signed up. Our goal would be to have a living-green city model where, over time, we could assess cities to see how gardenfriendly they are. And if/when they reach a certain level, they could declare: ‘I am a garden-friendly city.’” Indeed, Canada’s Garden-Family has a busy year ahead, but – as the many benefits of gardening are increasingly acknowledged – it is hoped that their celebration could form a model that could be adopted by other countries wanting to have their own YOTG celebration.

CANADA’S GARDEN-FAMILY MEMBERS INCLUDE: • Plant growers (greenhouse/nursery / field) • Garden product manufacturers • Retailers (garden centres, florists) • Professional service providers (landscapers, arborists) • Garden experiences (botanic gardens, events) • Garden clubs (horticulture societies) • Garden organisations • Garden communicators • Trade associations (national and provincial) • Educational and research institutions

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E X P O 20 21 YA N G Z H O U

HARMONY BETWEEN MAN AND NATUR So many people worked so hard over five years to make Expo 2021 Yangzhou happen. Despite making the unimaginable materialise and bringing success

AUTHOR: RACHEL WAKEFIELD PHOTOS: CHINA FLOWER ASSOCIATION

to the event, the closing formality of this Expo on 8 October was online.

Expo 2021 Yangzhou opening ceremony on 8 April.

he Expo organisers - National Forestry and Grassland Administration, China Flower Association and Jiangsu Provincial Government – had overcome the difficulties and challenges brought on by Coronavirus. Despite the final disruption, this major international horticultural Expo was successful from 8 April for six months. Expo 2021 Yangzhou was approved by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH). It was held in the ecological garden park of Zaolinwan Tourist Resort, in the Yangtze River Delta Region of Jiangsu province, of China.

DEMONSTRATING THE RICH HORTICULTURAL HISTORY SAFELY The Yangtze River Delta Region is historically famous for its traditional Chinese gardening techniques and renowned for Penjing (Chinese Bonsai) and beautiful

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gardens. Since ancient times, the Yangzhou people have attached great importance to a love of growing ornamental plants. Expo 2021 Yangzhou’s theme was ‘green city, health life’, and this sentiment permeated the Expo with over a thousand educational and sensory activities for all visitors. Innovative technology played a huge part in tracking and keeping the daily 55,000 visitors safe, with a team of more than 600 volunteers on site. The Expo demonstrated the area’s rich cultivating history, spanning 230 hectares in the Yangtze River Delta Region, arranged to showcase horticulture from five continents of the world, six regions of China and Jiangsu. It contained 1,500 plant species, 27,800 fullcrown trees and 770,000-metre squares of low shrubs, all harmoniously arranged. The flower borders were regularly maintained and innovatively changed for each season – spring, summer, and autumn.

E X P O 20 21 YA N G Z H O U

RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC SHOWCASING ON A GRAND SCALE Greeting the nearly 2.2million domestic visitors and millions more abroad online were flower and plants theme days, extraordinary characteristic weeks or special curations displaying the “blossom of spring to the golden beauty of autumn”. There were 1,360 garden and flower events, including five special international competitions, 12 agronomic and gardening series activities, and 120 theme activities. These events involved 25 international cities and organisation exhibition parks, 26 domestic cities and enterprise exhibition parks, 13 Jiangsu city exhibition parks, five international exhibition areas, five main venues, 13 Jiangsu city exhibition areas, and 12 public landscape gardens. Historically, the thousand-year-old city of Yangzhou was an important trading centre at the Silk and Maritime Silk Roads intersection. This Expo participated with horticultural producers from all over the world, creating gardens on site. For example, landscapers recreating capital cities - St Petersburg, Russia; Bangkok, Thailand; Rome, Italy; Fukuoka, Japan. Other participant installations came from international organisations such as INBAR, WGDO, WCCO, and enterprises such as SAIC Volkswagen, Jiangsu Huajian, Hongyue Hongcai. Other themed international gardens such as The Van Gogh Garden from Breda, the Netherlands; Window of Philadelphia, Garden of USA; African’s Djibouti Garden and Australia Blue Mountains.

Jiang Zehui, president of the China Flower Association and chairman of the Yangzhou Expo Organizing Committee

COMPETITION WINNERS The Yangzhou Expo International Competition had three parts: an outdoor exhibition garden, an indoor exhibition area and a unique flower gardening competition. The International Bamboo and Rattan Organization Garden, Shanghai Garden, and Yangzhou Garden won the International Horticultural Producers Association (AIPH) Award. The International Bamboo and Rattan Organization Garden and Japan’s Fukuoka Garden won the International Exhibition Garden Award. Shanghai Garden and Beijing Garden won the China

AIPH Prize Winner - The International Bamboo and Rattan Organisation Garden.

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E X P O 20 21 YA N G Z H O U

Garden Award. The Yangzhou Garden won the Jiangsu City. Hongcai Garden won the college and enterprise exhibition garden award. The Yangzhou exhibition area won the Jiangsu Indoor Exhibition Area Award, and 42 award-winning works were selected in five flower gardening competitions. There were also awards for contribution to the Yangzhou World Horticultural Exposition, theme interpretation, remarkable creativity and cultural exchanges. As the worlds champions for the power of plants, AIPH fully supports the efforts to raise the profile of plants and gardens and highlight the importance they play in making better lives and creating better cities for the future. AIPH was involved in judging the gardens at this Expo. The Secretary General Tim Briercliffe said: I feel a great sadness that I have not visited the Expo in person. However, I have been able to spend many enjoyable hours watching the videos and photos of every single garden. For everyone, I saw it made it even more painful that I could not be present to see, touch and smell as you have been able to do.”

IN HARMONY WITH THE LAND FOR THE EXPO LEGACY The Expo site located at the west gate of Yangzhou at the junction of Ningyang, in Zaolinwan Tourism Resort, is the largest hilly ecological park in East China. From the drawing board to reality, the organisers relied on the texture of the landscapes, forests and fields, to outline the Expo park, which was the structure of “one axis, two veins, five centres, and eight areas”.

AIPH Prize Winner - Shanghai Garden.

FLORACULTURE INTERNATIONAL JANUARY 2022

This plan included the International Pavilion, China Pavilion, Opening and Closing Ceremony Pavilion, Yuanye Garden, and Biyun. The five core scenic spots of the village and nearly 30 “gardens in gardens” had different styles and shapes, including the Constellation Garden, the Scholar Garden, the Wooden Garden, the Building Block Garden, and the Rock Garden. Less than 15 per cent of the Expo installations are permanent buildings. During construction, there was minimal human intervention and maximum protection of the original ecology, including 28,000 trees. The success of the Expo has brought future infrastructure investment of more than 40 billion RMB into Yizheng’s Central Hilly Eco-belt. This money will help create a brand-new section for the active integration into the Yangtze River Delta canal system and the joint development of rail transport networks between Nanjing-Zhenjiang-Yangzhou.

THE FORMAL CLOSING CEREMONY On the afternoon of 8 October, the closing ceremony of the Expo 2021 Yangzhou was hosted in Beijing and Yangzhou via video connection. At the Yangzhou meeting was Jiang Zehui, president of the China Flower Association and chairman of the Yangzhou Expo Organizing Committee, Pan Xianzhang, Deputy Governor of Jiangsu Province, Yang Shiyun, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Jiangsu Province, Zhang Baojuan, Secretary of the Yangzhou Municipal Party Committee, and Wang Jinjian, Acting Mayor. Due to current Covid-19 travel restrictions AIPH had to

E X P O 20 21 YA N G Z H O U

AIPH Prize Winner - Yangzhou Garden.

send a video speech from the Secretary General, Tim Briercliffe. At the Beijing venue, Liu Dongsheng, deputy director of the National Forestry and Grass Administration; Zhang Wei, director of the Ecology Department of the National Forestry and Grass Administration; Huang Zhengqiu, deputy director, Zhao Liangping; vice president of the China Flower Association, and Zhang Yinchao, secretary general, and, Liu Yuquan, Deputy Mayor of Chengdu. Liu Dongsheng said in his speech that the successful hosting of the Yangzhou Expo “showcases my country’s traditional horticultural skills, the development of the flower industry, and the world’s latest horticultural results. It depicts a beautiful picture of the harmonious coexistence of man and nature.” He acknowledged that the success of the Yangzhou Expo was not easy to come by. He thanked AIPH’s approval, guidance, support and coordination of Chinese flowers and the Yangzhou Municipal People’s Government, “we have overcome various difficulties and completed the tasks of the exhibition. It will also effectively promote the healthy and sustainable development of the flower gardening industry in Jiangsu Province and my country”. Pan Xianzhang said that the Yangzhou Expo is “a gift for the centenary of the founding of the Chinese Socialist party”. He underlined that the event had increased domestic and international dialogue that promotes mutual learning and demonstrates effective practices in pursuing harmony between man and nature. It also benefits the Yangzhou people and is conducive to longterm development. At the ceremony’s close, the AIPH flag was ceremoniously presented by Jiang Zehui to Liu Yuquan for the 2024 Chengdu Expo.

Click to view Expo 2021 Yangzhou video report presented at AIPH Virtual Expo Conference on 19 October 2021, and a playlist of gardens at Expo 2021 Yangzhou can be viewed on AIPH YouTube here.

The AIPH flag was ceremoniously presented by Jiang Zehui to Liu Yuquan, Deputy Mayor of Chengdu, in acknowledgement of the forthcoming International Horticultural Exhibition Chengdu 2024

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INADCO

BULK DENSITY streaming

Potting Reference

Mass

MOISTURE SENSOR

BULK DENSITY EN12580

Mobile measurement Volume

BALE FILLER

TECH AND GROWING MEDIA

Measuring = accurately knowing and controlling what you are measuring INADCO is one of Europe’s leading measurement equipment distributors and manufacturers, servicing amongst many sectors the horticultural industry since 1996. The company’s firstclass reputation is built on cutting edge technology used for the most accurate controlling and measuring of growing media’s bulk density and moisture content.

INADCO’s Densimeter.

oday, measuring the bulk density according to the European standard EN12580 is expected in the substrate and potting soil industry. It all began in 1999, when the growing media industry in Europe agreed that trading measurements of peat and potting soil must be based on Bulk Density, which is based on

weight, not volume. The Bulk Density is determined according to the description set out in the EN12580. Bulk Density times weight gives ENm³. In short, the equation ‘ENm³-volume instead of m³-volume (water-volume). External factors can always affect the optical volume of a load once a fully loaded truck leaves the factory. Factors such as road vibrations can

compress the material and visibly lower the load, causing customer complaints. Using ENm³ overrides the many theoretical discussions about the right amount of product arriving at the buyer. When following the method ENm³volume in trade of substrates it puts an end to any accusations of miscalculations of orders.

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T E C H A N D G R OW I N G M E D I A

The manual way of determining the bulk density according to the EN12580.

EN 12580 THE ESSENTIALS European Standard EN 12580 describes how to measure your soil’s bulk density in detail. The method uses screens with different mesh widths, depending on the product you measure. The purpose of the screen is to prevent the soil from falling from such a height that the soil already in the cylinder will be compressed due to the impact of the falling soil. The screen also regulates the amount of soil that can fall at a specific time as a whole in the cylinder. Due to this method, the cylinder will be filled as homogeneously as possible.

FLORACULTURE INTERNATIONAL JANUARY 2022

GREATER EFFICIENCY AND ACCURACY Before using this formula, the industry physically measured bulk density by hand – a thankless task involving heavy work, timeconsuming, inaccurate methods, especially with a 20-litre cylinder and several screens resulting in one or two measurements per batch. So, at the turn of the century, INADCO started to design, manufacture, and distribute high tech equipment to allow for greater efficiency, accuracy and less labour when measuring potting soil and substrate. The INADCO system measures according to the EN12580. As such, INADCO heralded a new era where numerous calibration lines for each product were no longer necessary. INADCO supplies the horticultural industry in Europe with an unrivalled choice of precision measuring equipment, including bulk density metres according to EN 12580 and moisture content metres. For example, INADCO moisture content measuring tool helps horticultural entrepreneurs measure

coarse inhomogeneous products such as wood fibre and coco peat. INADCO’s solutions provide essential information on: • mass flow, mass totaliser • water flow, water totaliser • volume flow, volume totaliser • bulk density flow, bulk density average Because INADCO develops new technology in-house, it can quickly adapt its equipment to suit every customer’s specific process circumstances. Examples of bespoke solutions in which the company has custom-made calibration systems for specialist operators in the past few years include: • delivering certified belt weighers (for bulk densities from 60kg/m3 up to 1500kg/m3) • determining the bulk-density • determining the moisture-content in bulk products • Controlling the filling of Big Bales and Big Bags by volume or weight • Checking the quantity in bags

TECH AND GROWING MEDIA

Concept of a modern production factory.

MISSION STATEMENT NOW AND IN THE FUTURE The INADCO brand name and quality assurance stands for achieving a higher, better, and homogeneous product quality during production. In 2000, the company launched its first Bulk Density metre and today has an extensive range of measuring equipment for controlling the production runs of a substrate and potting soil. Moisture content, fertiliser, raw materials, and production methods are just a few factors impacting the amount of the end product. Looking to the future, substrate regulations will become stricter, forcing entrepreneurs to gauge their production processes to comply accurately. INADCO will be there to support businesses adapting to all regulation changes and customer requirements.

INADCO DENSIMETER Measuring bulk flows in the potting soil industry is a daunting task given the nature of raw materials; they’re fibrous, gritty, compressible, moist

and inhomogeneous. INADCO’s measuring instruments aim to achieve high-quality reporting accuracy of the homogenous end product for small or larger charges. The INADCO Densimeter is a bulk density metre consisting of three major parts; a measuring module and a motor module, all attached to a sub-frame. The sampler module is an electronically driven shovel that rotates through a falling product stream and, in that way, collects a small sample of the product. The measuring module consists of a cylinder with the same volume as the cylinder used in the manual EN 12580 method. The measuring cylinder is mounted on a weighing cell. The sampler takes samples from a vertical product flow with adjustable scoop rotation. The shovel shall bring the collected sample toward the measuring cylinder where it would obstruct, so it falls into the measuring cylinder with zero vertical velocity as a starting speed. The sample taking is repeated until

the measuring cylinder is full. The sample taking will pause, and after calculating the bulk density, the shovel shall rotate over the measuring cylinder to open the bottom. All the collected samples will slide out of the cylinder back into the main product stream. The shovel shall rotate back, close the bottom and start again with the sampling. The sampling, calculation and emptying are done in approximately 60 seconds, resulting in a measurement every 3-5 m³ of product. A much higher rate compared to the manual method. The Densimeter device can be extended to accommodate the options of moisture and potting reference measurements.

POTTING REFERENCE What is the Potting Reference all about when filling pots? It is important that the soil in the pot is compacted for firmness, has the right degree of aeration for root growth and the right amount of nutrients.

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T E C H A N D G R OW I N G M E D I A

Accurate measurement results using the INADCO Potting Reference.

If the potting soil is pressed too hard, it will not benefit the plant and its growth of roots, and if the soil is not tamped down enough, the crop can simply fall over in the pot, or the roots cannot get the nutrients. But what if an alternative replaces peat due to scarcity and legislation? Can a product still be made by the potting soil manufacturer where the plants feel happy? These issues are now a reality. Often the mixture, including alternative peat products, is considered more expensive. But is this really so? Perhaps, per ENm³, this is true, but what if more pots can be filled from the same EN volume, whereby the alternative mixture retains the same properties for growth as the peat mixture?

FLORACULTURE INTERNATIONAL JANUARY 2022

And how do you demonstrate this? The Dutch RHP has investigated which compression is used by the various growers and breeders and has designed the Potting Reference based on this. The parameters in this reference are intended for the most common industry compression. With the Potting Reference, the potting soil producer can show his customer that at least as many pots can be filled with the alternative mixture, but with less product. Or is the volume the same, but can we fill more pots?

QUALITY ASSURANCE This measurement makes the Potting Reference, just like the moisture content and the applied nutrients, also a parameter that says something about the quality of the potting soil.

After all, variation in the Potting Factor results in variation in the aeration of the soil. But also in the amount of potting soil in the pot and thus the total number of nutrients present. The Potting Reference is a quality factor, but the horticulturist can also use it when ordering the potting soil. If the grower knows how much soil has to be put in a pot to get the ideal aeration and compression, he can order precisely the right amount of potting soil. Variation in the water content or incorrect mixing of all raw materials and additives can affect the potting soil’s compression and thus the Potting Reference. Based on the Potting Reference, the potting soil producer can see how his production progresses.

O PF M E X I C O 20 21

International opportunities Ornamental Plants and Flowers (OPF) Mexico is a committee integrated by Mexico’s principal plants and flowers organisations, including Mexican Flower Council, the State of Morelos Council of Ornamental Producers, Palacio de la Flor in Xochimilco, Floriculture Association of Villa Guerrero and the Cactus Union Producers of Querétaro.

aking the same name, the OPF Mexico trade show, approved by AIPH and powered by IPM Essen, promoted Mexican horticulture for three days in November, attracting 2,108 in-person attendees and nearly 1,000 online. The estimated value of the national production of flowers/ornamental plants in Mexico is €1,664,000,000. Most producers are in Mexico, Puebla, Morelos and Veracruz, and Mexico City. In total, there are 23,088 hectares of ornamental crops cultivated; and 25,500 producers of cut flowers and foliage and container plants; the industry also generates 188 thousand permanent jobs, 50 thousand temporary ones, and more than one million indirect ones. Mexico is the third country with the largest production area dedicated to ornamentals, only behind China and India. The USA is the largest consumer market for Mexican ornamental, horticultural and floricultural products. OPF Mexico has excellent relationships with the German Embassy in Mexico

and the International Dutch Chamber of Commerce in Mexico, known as Holland House Mexico. For this event there was a special international partnership with the Netherlands. From November 17 until 19, 2021 in Centro Citibanamex, Mexico City , the OPF Mexico Trade Show’s focus was on four speciality areas: Plants and Flowers, Technology and Innovation, Floristry and Decoration, Gardening and Landscaping. There were 80 international exhibitors. It is not only the trade show which OPF Mexico uses to connect their audience of producers with the global supply chain. They also have a digital platform B2B Conecta, which gives an immediate connection for all participants. Two thousand six hundred twenty business interactions took place on this platform during the event’s three days. Thanks to social media campaigns, there were twenty-six thousand new views and invitations to discover more about OPF Mexico. • OPF Mexico 2022 will take place from 13, 14 and 15 September www.opfexpo.com

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RUSSIA AND BEL ARUS

Russian flowers receive major impetus as Belarus lifts tax exemptions for international suppliers

Russia’s domestic flower industry has received a significant impetus in 2021 as the government of Belarus abolished the value-added tax (VAT) benefit that had been in effect since 2011 AUTHOR: EUGENE GERDEN PHOTOS: RON VAN DER PLOEG AND FLOWER ACADAMY.

and caused an influx of cheap imported flowers into Russia.

he Belarusian government’s decision to revoke the floral tax rules should help resolve unequal competition between Russian flower growers and international suppliers. The latter use Belarus as a transit hub for lowerpriced flowers from the Netherlands, Colombia, Ecuador and Kenya, primarily destined for the Russian market.

UNLEVEL PLAYING FIELD Up until August 31, 2021, many flower producers and importers were exempt from the inland revenue adding 20 per cent VAT when importing products into Belarus, including flowers, which were then re-exported to the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU),

FLORACULTURE INTERNATIONAL JANUARY 2022

including Russia. The import privilege created the so-called Belarusian export scheme to Russia and benefitted sellers of imported flowers from Ecuador, Kenya, the Netherlands and other countries. It allowed them to sell flowers at low prices on the Russian market, creating an unlevel playing field for domestic producers. The share of imported flowers in Russia was 82 per cent, according to 2020 data from industry body Greenhouses of Russia. Their calculations found that, due to the Belarusian scheme with VAT, the annual losses of Russian rose growers alone amounted to approximately 3.2 billion rubles. This disadvantage is because Russian flower growers have to pay the full VAT rates, unlike sellers of imported flowers.

EXCISE TAX The need to solve the unfair advantage for foreign players in the Russian flowers market was initially expressed by Russia’s Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin for legislative consideration at the beginning of 2020 after an appeal by industry organisations. A year later, a declaration of the same demand to the Ministry of Finance by Valentina Matvienko, the speaker of the Council of Federation, the upper house of the Russian Parliament Valentina Matvienko. Before the decision by the Belarus government to abolish zero VAT, the Russian Finance Ministry was developing other measures to level the playing field between Russian and foreign flower suppliers. For example, the department considered the issue of

RUSSIA AND BEL ARUS

introducing an excise tax on flowers. Moreover, the Russian government has been busy drafting a ‘road map’ to guide the business development of the country’s ornamentals sector. The head of the Federal Council’s Committee on agriculture, food policy and environment, senator Alexei Mayorov says that among the issues addressed in the road map are excise taxes on imported flowers, which sell below the indicative price set by the government. Concerns about the excise tax, which could affect importers, were also expressed by Russian industry associations in a letter to the Russian Ministry of Finance. In it, they said that “the mechanism for calculating the excise tax for all market participants is unclear.” They state it does not mention the following; how Russia will calculate the indicative price; what indicators will form the basis for the calculation; during what are the time intervals that the information will be collected, and how often will it happen.”

FAR FROM REACHING PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS Alexey Antipov, head of Russia’s National Association of Flower Growers (RNAF) – a trade association uniting 11 flower growers - says the problem continues to exist. He points at

understated invoices, by which flowers get imported to Russia on a ‘grey’ scheme. Antipov has also added that the Russian market hasn’t completely recovered from the pandemic and its consequences despite the measures taken. Alexander Litvinenko, a board member of the Association of Greenhouses of Russia, shares Antipov’s views noting that the market cannot reach pre-pandemic figures. Litvinenko comments, “The most difficult period for the flower market was the spring of 2020 when the flower trade practically stopped for a month due to restrictive measures. The market recovered with the easing of restrictions and the search for new work channels with flower buyers. However, there was no recovery to pre-pandemic levels. The impact of the pandemic on the Russian flower market was reflected in its contraction, by about 10 to 12 per cent mainly due to a reduction in imports.”

CHANGING DEMAND According to him, the demand for flowers has changed due to a sharp decrease in the number of social and corporate events, usually accompanied by many flowers, and a reduction in the population’s purchasing power. Litvinenko believes full recovery of the flower market will occur with the

resumption of people’s ‘normal lifestyle’. Apart from the successful talks with Belarus, the Russian government, for the first time, began to pay attention to the country’s floral industry by creating a working group on the development of the floriculture industry in the Council of Federation. The newly established group will lobby the interests of domestic flowers producers in the national government. It will speed the adoption of a legal action to give flower producers better access to cheaper banking loans. The group will develop a comprehensive import substitution programme for the floriculture industry development. They will define a list of state support measures for domestic producers of flower products, including expanding the mechanism for their financial support, providing preferential short-term loans to both newly created and existing flower growing businesses, and defining the conditions for such support. Finally, the group will prepare financial support measures for domestic producers to be included in the Russian state budget for the next three years. One of the major tasks of the new group will be the improvement of state regulation of the floriculture industry, including issues of taxation, state support, verification activities by the Federal Customs Service and the Federal Tax Service.

The Russian government’s decision to revoke the floral tax rules should help resolve unequal competition between Russian flower growers and international suppliers.

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U S A : N E W Y E A R PR E D I CT I O N S

America’s young home buyers will heighten demand for “flowers, shrubs and trees”

AUTHOR: RACHEL ANDERSON

Millennials buying new homes is “good news” for the American horticulture

* A National Association of Realtors (NAR) statistic

industry, notes AmericanHort’s chief economist Dr Charlie Hall.

eading the “Vaccines, Plants and Dollars – The Year in Review” webinar (held on December 3, 2021), Dr Charlie Hall revealed that, in 2020, 38 per cent of home purchases in the US were by millennials.* “They are going to represent a big chunk of personal disposable income by 2030 – millennials are coming into their moment,” he asserted. Dr Hall also pointed out that two separate sources – namely Axiom Marketing and the National Gardening Survey (2020) - revealed that there were some 18 million new gardeners in the US. “So, we’ve got all these folks that are buying homes who need flowers and shrubs and trees for them. That’s good news for the industry.” Furthermore, Dr Hall revealed that when millennials were asked (by

FLORACULTURE INTERNATIONAL JANUARY 2022

39.9 per cent of them said they planned to create more outdoor space.

PENT UP DEMAND

Dr Charlie Hall Axiom) what sort of outdoor living projects they are likely to complete during 2022, 43.8 per cent of them (the greatest response) said they were likely to update their outdoor entertaining space or deck, while

With these trends in mind, Dr Hall predicted that pent up demand for horticulture products will continue in 2023. “I think we are going to see more household events, and people are going to want flowers, shrubs and trees.” Against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, Dr Hall also made some other predictions for the coming year. He forecast, for example, that disruptions to the supply chain will necessitate more businessto-business vertical coordination – standing orders, increased lead times, greater use of website shops and online platforms, and more virtual sales contacts/demos. “We are going to utilise technology

U S A : N E W Y E A R PR E D I CT I O N S

tools to facilitate trade in the supply chain. There are going to be some changes made in how we conduct business.” Dr Hall also noted that e-commerce applications and other technologies such as “big data” and artificial intelligence will expand. “We [recently] saw five years of growth in the e-commerce side of our business in one year, and we will continue to see growth in e-commerce. Our industry has only scratched the surface – there’s a lot of opportunities there.”

TECH Automated technology will lead to innovations in logistics – “moving stuff through the supply chain in a smarter fashion” – another necessity, particularly given the chronic shortage of truck drivers in the United States (and elsewhere). More alternatives to plastics are likely to be developed and “a more sustainable mindset throughout the supply chain,” explained Dr Hall. “There’s going to be a big push in our industry to reduce our use of plastics. Current use cost us 28 per cent more (minimum) than plastics

did a year ago – fortunately, plastics only represent 10.2 per cent of our cost of goods.” Dr Hall warned that rising input costs would lead to price increases, with less price sensitivity in the supply chain (as the industry has already experienced). Therefore, growers were advised to use their working capital wisely “because of the uncertainty of the future.” While there will be fewer new plant introductions, and certain plants will be in short supply, there will be an opportunity for other crops. And surpluses of certain plants are inevitable but not until 2023 or beyond (hopefully). “We see these shortages, and then we turn them into surpluses in record amounts of time,” said Dr Hall.

DISRUPTIONS TO THE SUPPLY CHAIN WILL NECESSITATE MORE BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS VERTICAL COORDINATION

NOW IS THE TIME On a positive note, there is an opportunity to increase demand. This plan is because “now is the time” for the American horticulture industry to convince people of plants’ health, well-being, environmental and ecosystem services, and economic benefits. Dr Hall said: “Numerous marking efforts are underway. Now is the time to shout about the plants’ benefits and sustainability initiatives that resonate [with people].” Currently, the Build Back Better Act has earmarked $3.75 billion for competitive grants to promote conservation and tree planting by state, local and tribal governments and non-profit organisations. Dr Hall said: “We need to make sure that all this is kept in the Build Back Better, and hopefully if that’s passed, there will be some windfalls of money coming in for conservation projects, which bodes well for a number of our nurseries and so forth.” He concluded his talk with a wise message during these uncertain times: “There are the things that matter and the things that you can control. And the overlap of those two circles is the things that you’ve got to focus on.”

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More alternative raw materials

Less emissions

Reliable high quality

Evolution of Growing Media “Helleborus is a niche product. This is where the right substrate recipe is essential. We see great success with TerrAktiv® and GreenFibre® in our mixture. The plants are stronger, more compact and resistant. We are very grateful to have such a reliable partner in Klasmann-Deilmann.” Thierry van Paemel, satisfied ADVANCED customer, owner of “BVBA Helleborus” (a leading producer of Helleborus in Belgium)

www.klasmann-deilmann.com

G R OW I N G M E D I A

Advanced substrate boosts the industry’s green credentials Klasmann-Deilmann has launched a new substrate called Advanced. It sets the bar high for responsible horticulture combining the most valuable raw materials into high-performance blends with a low carbon footprint.

he new Advanced substrate provides the very best from the diverse raw materials available. This new range brings together the strengths of wood fibre, green compost, coir, perlite and peat. Its well-balanced recipes ensure precise cultivation control and healthy crop growth. And the increasing use of renewable resources keeps the carbon footprint down and facilitates sustainable development at horticultural businesses, while more lightweight substrates mean more environmentally friendly transport.

MULTIPURPOSE SUBSTRATE The Advanced range covers all plant and crop segments for any horticultural use. These blends are tried and tested, with proven suitability for all cultivation methods commonly used on the international scene. “Our Advanced range sets the benchmark for forward-looking growing media – high performing, reliable in cultivation and sustainable,” says Moritz Böcking, Managing Director of the KlasmannDeilmann Group. “There’s a lot of talk about alternative raw materials

and peat substitutes. The fact is that wood fibre, compost and the rest have long been an integral part of every good product range. And, in our new product line, they are quite essential. Advanced substrates are our new standard.”

A PROVEN TRACK RECORD IN SUSTAINABILITY For 30 years now, KlasmannDeilmann has been distributing substrates containing renewable resources, which it produces for quality assurance reasons. To meet the growing demand, the company is continually investing in the expansion of its production capacity. “This gives us a real edge. Drawing on our extensive experience, we can make specific use of the full range of substrate constituents for all horticultural applications so that commercial plant producers can fully enjoy their benefits. The priority here

KlasmannDeilmann’s new Advance substrate is suited for a wide range of horticultural crops including potted herbs. This picture features a healthy basil crop at Denise Brelage in Germany.

is reliability in terms of crop cultivation,” notes Böcking. At the same time, Advanced substrates contribute to sustainable development; through their more lightweight raw materials, it has a positive impact in terms of transport-related emissions. And these growing media are also better for the climate. Over the next five years, Klasmann-Deilmann will be able to reduce these products’ carbon footprint by up to 50 per cent. “This will also be of benefit to environmentally conscious growers. The new generation of Advanced growing media represents a step forward in every respect – and we’re keen to share it with our customers,” says Moritz Böcking. The new Advanced substrate is now available worldwide. For more information, visit www.klasmann-deilmann.com

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Green City Post GLOBAL ROUNDTABLE SHARES OPINIONS ON NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS AUTHOR: DR AU DR EY TIMM , TECHNICAL ADVISOR , AIPH

Nature-based solutions (NBS) is a term that is becoming widely used to describe the use of natural systems to solve problems that have been created by urban and rural development. NBS centre around plants, and there are many examples of successful implementation of NBS and the benefits that this provides to society and the environment. This is good news for the ornamental horticulture industry which supplies plants used in NBS, and this could be the catalyst to stimulate a green economy.

View of green roof on modern buildings in Sydney, Australia

his question was posed by Siobhan McQuaid (Trinity College, Dublin) and Daniela Rizzi (ICLEI Europe) for a global roundtable discussion: How can naturebased solutions (NBS) provide the basis for a nature-based economy? The Nature of Cities (TNOC) hosts a monthly global roundtable to gather ideas and opinions from a transdisciplinary panel as a way to stimulate open discussion. In this roundtable Siobhan and Daniela posed a number of questions to stimulate debate: • How do you see nature-based solutions contributing to the sustainable economy of the future? • How do we go from nature-based solutions to a nature-based economy — where we work in harmony with nature — planning, growing, harnessing, harvesting and/or restoring natural resources in a sustainable way? • What type of new jobs, new innovations, new enterprises might emerge from a nature-based economy and what are the challenges to uptake of such a concept globally? “While much focus to date has been on the environmental or social benefits of nature-based solutions, less attention has been paid to their economic potential and their role in contributing

FLORACULTURE INTERNATIONAL JANUARY 2022

towards more sustainable and just societies”, suggest the authors. These are some of the global opinions about whether the values of nature (in many dimensions) can be recognised and how these values could be firmly integrated into our economies. John Bell and Tiago Freitas of DG Research and Innovation: “The potential is huge. However, unlocking full NBS potential will need a massive increase in investment, both public and private and will hinge on a paradigm shift in how our economies are organised and how they value nature and its services. A transformation is needed in our current business model, bringing local actors to the driving seat for changes. In a nutshell – we are not short of ideas. Science is clear on what needs to be done, but it is time to deliver innovation, demonstration of NBS – across policy, business and civil society.” Isaac Mugumbule and Rhoda Gwayinga of Kampala Capital City: “Governments, policy makers, experts and private sector need to collaborate and develop Nature-based economic indicators. These could explore factors like urban forestry cover, air quality, blue infrastructure, population growth, green technology. Nature-based economic indicators would then be used as a basis for driving key economic policy decisions as opposed to the norm.” Ana Mitić-Radulović, Centre for Experiments in Urban

PL A N T PR O F I L E

Studies (CEUS) from Belgrade: “Post-pandemic recovery is the perfect occasion for spatial and urban planners to spark the conversation on grey-to-green transition of the public spaces and infrastructure, and for the governments to accept nature-based solutions and the accompanying economic activities, reskilling and upskilling of workers for green jobs, and adoption of policies which truly embrace nature-based economy.” Rupesh Madlani and Emre Eren, both involved in innovative finance mechanisms: “The extent to which nature-based solutions can provide a basis for a naturebased economy depends on the coinciding policies, frameworks and mechanisms implemented. With the correct policies that address barriers and drive enabling factors, nature-based solutions include such a wide variation of projects that they provide a strong foundation to achieve a nature based economy. Furthermore, in order for nature-based solutions to provide the basis for a nature-based economy, there needs to be greater transparency around the frameworks used to identify nature-based activities and ensure funder capital is directed to the correct coinciding projects. For example, the IUCN Global Standard provides clear parameters for defining nature-based solutions and a common framework to help benchmark progress. Such a standard also allows for the wider stakeholder groups in society to get involved and engage with the governance structure of the standard.” David Simon, Professor of Development Geography at Royal Holloway, University of London: “In a monetized world, attaching tangible values to ecosystems and the services they perform is the most likely way to conserve them.” Cecilia Polacow Herzog, Urban Landscape Planner at Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro: “Brazilian cities are still introducing nature-based solutions as demonstration projects on a slow pace. The landscape transformation must gain scale urgently, bringing nature to all possible places. Taking out cars, planting trees and opening spaces for people close to regenerated urban nature, creating new and sustainable businesses and jobs.” The opinions expressed in this TNOC global round table suggest that nature-based-solutions in the urban environment go beyond simply providing an opportunity for reconnecting people and nature. They work in tandem with the built infrastructure, providing solutions that hard, engineered systems cannot deliver on their own. Implementing successful nature-based-solutions is driven not only by knowledge, but by an understanding of how the knowledge contributes to the solution. From this perspective, no single sector can drive a naturebased economy. When nature-based-solutions become an integral part of city infrastructure, nature becomes woven into the economic support network, providing new business opportunities, jobs, and income-generating activities across a broad spectrum of the population. Read the full report from TNOC https:// www.thenatureofcities.com/2021/09/07/ how-can-nature-based-solutions-nbs-provide-thebasis-for-a-nature-based-economy/

CREEPING JENNY, LYSIMACHIA NUMMULARIA The Guangzhou Garden RHS Chelsea 2021 perfectly illustrated the role for chartreuse foliage plants in a late season planting scheme and none better than the visually appealing Creeping Jenny, Lysimachia nummularia.. By Dr Audrey Timm. Peter Chmiel, Director of Grant Associates

Lysimachia nummularia was rapidly grown for the Guangzhou Garden as 2 and 3 lite pots stacked and elevated to encourage long chainlike growth. Perfect for draping over rocks or along water edges.

Its round, penny-sized shiny Chartreuse leaves clasp to each side of its stem creating a beautiful chain that cascaded over the natural waterfall, along the stream and trailed throughout the woodland floor. Its design versatility was emphasized by its ability to act as groundcover, accent plant and, a visually unifying marginal plant. Creeping Jenny is native to the British Isles and is a hardy perennial, best grown in part-shade to sun and is hardy to zone (UK) 4, it can grow to approximately 50 mm high. A plant which enjoys very moist soil or water up to 30 mm deep, making it a useful marginal plant for the water garden and highly suited to rain gardens. Throughout the months June to August small but short lived pretty yellow flowers delight, providing added beauty and interest. The species is hermaphrodite and is pollinated by Bees and flies. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in very heavy clay soil. Suitable pH range includes acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. Creeping Jenny can be rather prolific and, in some locations may even be considered to be invasive, but it’s easily checked and can be managed by pruning, pulling or plucking. As per most species in this genus it seems to be immune to the predations of rabbits and is not subject to any pests or diseases. This plant can be used as a great void filler to soften edges of paths in-between rocks, or paving. Its cheerful, bright leaves create a beautiful contrast against the cool buffs or greys of wet stone. Besides visual appeal, Creeping Jenny offers medicinal care. In traditional Chinese medicine, Lysimachia is used to treat gall stones and urinary bladder stones. The plant contains a number of phenolic acids and is also used by herbalists for treating wounds. Some practitioners use the plant to battle gout symptoms. As a resilient and regenerative plant Creeping Jenny is easy to propagate. The plant naturally spreads by both seeds and rhizomes and can even be rooted in water. The easiest way to establish new plants is to dig up a portion of an established patch, separate it, and simple plant into a new suitable location. A plant that is resilient, regenerative, attractive to pollinators, useful marginal filter plant and native to British Isles makes it a useful candidate for nature-based solutions. Sometimes, referred to as Moneywort it can indeed by a money saver when looking to fill those voids whilst proving many environmental benefits.

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