International Association Of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) Update

This AIPH update provides an overview of the upcoming Annual Congress and a report on the recent “Spring” meeting held in the Netherlands:

71st Annual Congress

The 71st AIPH Annual Congress and World Ornamental Horticulture Summit are to be held in Yanqing District, Beijing, China from 9 – 14 September 2019. The Congress and Summit will include the following meetings, events and activities:

1.The AIPH General Meeting:

This meeting is for AIPH members and provides an update on the operation of AIPH and any general updates from AIPH members. An update will be provided on NGIA and the establishment of Greenlife Industry Australia.

2.The AIPH Expo Conference:

The AIPH Expo Conference provides a platform for organisers to present progress reports on AIPH approved international horticultural expos. The event also offers a forum for exchanging knowledge and best practices in regard to organising these major international events. At this conference, expo organisers can gain insight into the successful planning, design, financial, operational and promotional elements of expos. This event also provides the opportunity for expo organisers to make an application for approval from the International Association of Horticultural Producers.

3.The AIPH International Green City Conference:

The AIPH Green City initiative promotes the essential role of plants in creating vibrant and healthy urban environments. The AIPH Green City Conference takes place annually to unite key stakeholders with the aim of advancing the promotion and development of green cities around the world. This year’s conference will explore the use of vegetation in reducing air pollution, policies for urban greening and case studies where such policies have been successfully implemented. Speakers will also share their knowledge and experience of planning green cities with examples of major projects in China.

4.The World Ornamental Horticulture Summit:

The key themes that will be covered in Summit include:

Plant Breeders Rights in China
Effective Intellectual Property Protection for Plant Innovations
Successful Cooperation Between Chinese Growers and International Breeders
Trade and Cooperation with China
What You Need to Know About Trading with China
A View from the Banking Sector
International Growers Making Business in China
Understanding the Chinese Market
The AIPH International Vision Project, China

5.Visit to Expo 2019 Beijing:

Expo 2019 Beijing, blooming at the foothills of the Great Wall, is the largest AIPH approved AI International Horticultural Expo ever held. With the theme 'Live Green Live Better' the expo focuses on ecological civilisation and green development. The expo was opened by the Chinese President Xi Jinping with an official ceremony attended by more than 900 world leaders, international representatives, and national officials, drawing global attention to horticulture and the importance of urban greening.

The expansive 500-hectare expo park hosts over 100 international participants, demonstrating horticultural excellence alongside China's own, unique showcase landscapes and gardens. The Expo runs until 7th October.

AIPH Spring Meeting

The AIPH “Spring” Meeting was conducted in early April in the Netherlands. It included an AIPH General Meeting, the AIPH Expo Conference update, AIPH member Global Green Cities reporting, professional visits to the Dutch Flower Group, Royal Flora Holland, Keukenhof and a number of nurseries at Boskoop. The centrepiece for the Meeting was the first AIPH Sustainability Conference.

1.AIPH Sustainability Conference:

This was the first Sustainability Conference convened by AIPH with a focus on plastics in ornamental horticulture and creating a sustainable supply chain. The conference brought together leading global industry speakers to facilitate important and urgent discussions with the aim of galvanising an informed, collaborative and effective approach to developing a sustainable industry for the future.

The presentations included The Future for Plastics, Lower Footprint – Higher Profits, Opportunities for Change in Plastic Use, Growers Working Together, a “Plastic Pact”, the Manufacture’s perspective and Creating a Sustainable Supply Chain in North America.

It was highlighted that plastics are everywhere and there are three dimensions of impact from the use of plastics as detailed in the following slide:

The challenge is complicated with attendees challenged on 1. What can be recycled?; 2. Can it be recycled efficiently?; and 3. Can it be recycled in your area?

Some of the proposed “call to actions” items to address the issue included:

Lobby decision makers
Engage in the debate
Have knowledge on the issue
Trial innovation to address the issue
Integrate sustainability into “your” business model.

The conference finished with a panel discussion, where Peter Vaughan was a member to provide the Australian perspective on the use of plastics in the nursery industry.

The key message from the conference was on the 5Rs for the use of plastics in the industry – Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Renewable sources.

2.Boskoop Production Nurseries Visit:

The AIPH delegation visited a number of production nurseries in Boskoop. Boskoop is famous for its nurseries, particularly woody plant and perennial nurseries. There are over 700 situated on long stretches of land which is basically peat divided by narrow canals.

One of the nurseries specialised in supplying councils and had an interesting space saving approach to packing and transporting stock. As the plants are for planting directly by the councils, and not retail, there was less emphasis on the appearance and aesthetics of the plants and more on the density of packing for transport.

International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) Overview

Since 1948, AIPH has united horticultural producers in an international community that thrives to this day. Much has changed in that time. Technologies advanced, cities rose from the ground, and we have become more connected than ever. As a result, our essential bond with nature has been weakened. AIPH strives to reignite and uphold an appreciation of plants that we believe is a basic human instinct. We support the work of grower associations globally and together we champion a prosperous industry, growing plants that enhance lives, advance societies and sustain our planet, for this generation and the next.