To strengthen biodiversity in the flower industry, Unternehmen Biologische Vielfalt (UBi) offers knowledge and recommendations from experts in dialog formats. The second round table with stakeholders from the horticultural industry at the beginning of February focused on biodiversity-related criteria for the industry’s most important standards.
Whether in a vase, as room decoration or in the garden: Germans love flowers, and according to Agrarmarkt Informations-Gesellschaft (AMI), the total market is estimated to be worth 8.6 billion euros in 2023. The sector is smaller and more manageable than the food industry, for example, and could therefore serve as a model for transparent supply chains and high sustainability standards throughout the entire value chain – from seeds to potted plants in customers’ living rooms.
In order to strengthen biodiversity in the flower industry, the Enterprise Biodiversity (UBi) project offers knowledge and recommendations from experts in dialog formats. In 2023, the Lake Constance Foundation and the Global Nature Fund initiated a dialog with stakeholders from the horticultural sector in Germany and internationally. Most recently, UBi reviewed the biodiversity-related criteria of the industry’s leading standards (for both cut flowers and potted plants) and hosted a round table in early February 2024.
Biodiversity criteria of the leading sustainability standards
On February 1, 2024, the second round table of the UBi project took place, bringing together standard setters, producers and representatives of DIY stores and garden centers to discuss recommendations for protecting biodiversity. The discussion was based on an analysis of the biodiversity criteria of leading industry standards (e.g. MPS, Fairtrade, GlobalG.A.P. IFA, EU Bio), which was carried out by the Lake Constance Foundation and the Global Nature Fund. For example, the principles of the avoidance hierarchy and the inclusion of biodiversity training for companies and auditors were presented. Biodiversity action plans for horticulture.
A key aspect of the dialog was the integration of biodiversity action plans into industry standards. Although some standards already contain such plans, they are often voluntary and lack clear guidelines, practical examples and recommendations for implementation.
It is also important to take into account the regional differences at the (global) production sites – important production countries include the Netherlands, Kenya, Colombia and Malaysia. Financing biodiversity measures remains a challenge, although they can help companies to safeguard their production against climate change.
Another topic of the round table was biodiversity monitoring. It was agreed that monitoring must be easy to implement. The recording of operational and natural areas is still difficult; some standards are also experimenting with geodata and filters or life cycle assessments.
Conclusion on the second round table
The participants agreed that biodiversity measures help producers to safeguard ecosystem services such as fertile soil or water and thus better protect their production against climate change. Through practical examples and cooperation along the supply chain, the sector can promote the protection of biodiversity. Challenges for the flower and ornamental plant industry.
At our third round table on February 28, 2024, we will focus on topics such as resource overexploitation, invasive species, biodiversity and environmental pollution. We will report on the results and experiences at www.unternehmen-biologische-vielfalt.de.