determine against the background of sunny Lisbon , Portugal ’s capital , the Ornamental Horticulture in Portugal Conference welcomed academic expert and industry professional to speak about the opportunities the country offer and the challenges it faces .
The conference , which select topographic point on March 14 , was organized by the International Association of Horticultural Producers ( AIPH ) in collaboration with the Portuguese Association of Producers of Natural Plants and Flowers ( APPP - FN ) and patronise by GlobalG.A.P. It was a part of the AIPH Spring Meeting , where members come together from around the reality .
Ricardo Silvestre , Vice - President of APPP - FN , opened the league with an overview of the association ’s work . He said : " One of the major objective of APPP - FN is to encourage negotiation among professionals , institutions , and society to make Portuguese decorative production more free-enterprise . "
Portugal has a long history with flowers , with Montijo – a region nigh to Lisbon – being the substance of flower product in the country . Ricardo foreground that changes in EU statute law regarding plant health are a big event for Portuguese agriculturist as it is difficult to keep up - to - escort .
Miguel Costa , a researcher and lecturer at the University of Lisbon gave a comprehensive overview of the ornamental horticultural industry in Portugal . Miguel commented : " We are a small land , but we are the 8th top manufacturer of ornamental in Europe . "
With his enquiry concentrate on sustainability and climate issues in viticulture and horticulture , Miguel has a vast knowledge of the benefits and challenge of Portugal ’s environment for grower . He said : " We have two type of mood . In the north , there are cooler temperatures and sozzled , rainy winter , and in the south , there is less precipitation . It ’s a small state but with a lot of variation . "
ornamental are produced tight to consumer center , such as Lisbon , and along the Atlantic slide , where there are more moderate temperatures . The most produce gash prime in the country is the protea .
Rick van Woudenberg , Co - Owner of Van Woudenberg Tuinplanten , extend a dissimilar perspective on grow in Portugal . As a Dutch native who enlarge his family business concern to a new body politic , Rick sees Portugal as a prime investment for the horticultural industriousness .
" Twelve years ago , in the Netherlands , we grew early spring perennial in greenhouses , " Rick said . " The greenhouse give very soft - flower plant , and I thought , ' we have to do this otherwise . We have to give the client the choice of a hardy plant . ' From then on , we learned how to bring on our perennials in Portugal . "
The Portuguese mood allows company like Van Woudenberg Tuinplanten to produce all twelvemonth round , therefore meeting seasonal demands with great comfort .
Sarah von Fintel , Key Account Manager for Floriculture Sales and Stakeholder Relations for GlobalG.A.P. , also link the conference to inform guests about the governance ’s certification schemes and how they profit grower . Around 2,500 ornamentals producer around the world are GlobalG.A.P. certified , include growers in Portugal .
Commenting on the event , AIPH Secretary General Tim Briercliffe said : " This conference and the nursery tours near Lisbon pay us a valuable insight into the Lusitanian industry . There are most emphatically chance for growth here as production becomes much less financially viable in other higher - cost regions of Europe . "
To take in the conference on - demand , please visit theAIPH Website .
For more information : AIPHwww.aiph.org
