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Driving sustainability in Kenya’s flower sector

Published: September 26, 2024

The International Flower Trade Expo (IFTEX) 2024 in Nairobi highlights Kenya’s flourishing floriculture industry and its crucial partnership with the Netherlands. This collaboration has driven innovation, productivity, and sustainability in the sector. Dutch expertise has facilitated access to global markets, advanced technologies, and sustainable practices. Kenya’s floriculture growth, backed by favorable climate and government support, faces challenges from climate change, but partnerships with the Netherlands continue to play a key role in addressing these issues.

IFTEX 2024, held in Nairobi from 4 to 6 June 2024, is a testament to Kenya’s burgeoning floriculture industry and the critical role the sector plays for Kenya and her key trade partners. As one of the largest and most influential trade events for the global flower market, IFTEX serves as a platform for growers, buyers, and industry stakeholders to network, showcase innovations, and explore new business opportunities.

A significant highlight of this year’s event is the enduring and fruitful collaboration between Kenya and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a relationship that is celebrating its 60 year anniversary and which has been pivotal in shaping Kenya’s floriculture landscape. Kenya’s geo-positioning in the region plays a critical role in hosting international trade fairs and expos, such as IFTEX, that provide Kenyan growers with invaluable exposure and opportunities to forge new partnerships, expand their market reach, and stay abreast of the latest industry trends.

Kenya and the Netherlands share a robust history of collaboration in the floriculture sector. The Netherlands, known for its expertise in horticulture and flower trade, has been instrumental in providing technical assistance, investment, and market access to Kenyan flower growers. This partnership has facilitated the transfer of advanced agricultural practices and technologies, helping Kenyan farmers improve productivity and sustainability.

Discussions with the Floriculture Sector

One of the key collaborations is through the Royal Flora Holland, the largest floral auction in the world, which has played a significant role in integrating Kenyan flowers into the global market. Dutch investors have also established numerous flower farms in Kenya, creating employment opportunities and contributing to the country’s economic growth. The Dutch Flower Group (DFG) , another major player, has been actively involved in sourcing flowers from Kenya. Their partnerships with local growers ensure a steady supply of high-quality flowers to European markets, thus enhancing Kenya’s reputation as a leading flower exporter.

Speaking during the official opening of this year’s conference, Dr. Idris Salim Dokota; Principal Secretary, of the State Department For Cabinet Affairs highlighted the role that trade partnerships have played in growing the flower sector in Kenya. 

“The government of Kenya has negotiated favorable trade agreements with various countries, opening doors for Kenyan floriculture exports. These agreements have eliminated trade barriers, promoted fair pricing, and created a level playing field for our flowers in the global market. The Kenya-EU Economic Partnership Agreement, signed in December 2023, has now been ratified by both the National Assembly of Kenya and the European Union in Brussels.” – Dr. Idris Salim Dokota

Kenya’s floriculture sector has experienced remarkable growth over the years. The country’s favorable climate, coupled with the expertise provided by Dutch collaborations, has enabled the production of a wide variety of flowers, including roses, carnations, and lilies. The sector contributes significantly to Kenya’s economy, accounting for a substantial portion of the country’s agricultural exports.

The Kenya Flower Council (KFC), established in 1996, has been at the forefront of promoting sustainable practices within the industry. By setting standards and providing certification, KFC ensures that Kenyan flowers meet international quality and sustainability criteria. This commitment to sustainability has not only enhanced the global competitiveness of Kenyan flowers, but also ensured environmental conservation and social responsibility.

Several key milestones highlight the success of Kenya’s floriculture industry. One notable achievement is the implementation of the Flower Industry Sustainability Program (FISP), supported by both the Kenyan government and international partners like the Netherlands. This program aims to enhance the sustainability of the floriculture sector through research, training, and the adoption of environmentally friendly practices.

Additionally, the collaboration with the Netherlands has led to the establishment of state-of-the-art facilities and infrastructure. These include modern greenhouses, advanced irrigation systems, and efficient logistics networks, all of which have significantly boosted the quality and volume of flower production in Kenya.

The Kenya Flower Council (KFC) continues to champion sustainable flower farming through its certification schemes such as the Flowers and Ornamental Sustainability Standard (F.O.S.S) popularly known KFC Silver, KFC enhanced compliance of members farms, and continues to promote sustainability in the floriculture industry focusing on members, suppliers, markets, environment and people. It advocates for growers to adopt practices that conserve water, reduce pesticide use, and protect workers’ rights. These initiatives not only enhance the sustainability of the sector but also boost the international reputation of Kenyan flowers.

The council’s commitment was reiterated by Christopher Kulei (Chairman, Kenya Flower Council). He noted that sustainability in the flower sector has evolved from a peripheral concern to a central pillar of business strategy.

“Over the last several months, we’ve experienced unprecedented rains and flooding in Kenya. We all know the effects of the products, but we also lost hundreds of lives. We see floods happening in Germany, which emphasizes the importance of sustainable business practices in curbing the effects of climate change. Putting sustainability as a core part of each of our strategies is a must, and is quickly becoming a critical consumer expectation and demand. Today, we – the Kenyan Flower Council – reaffirm our dedication to sustainable floriculture.” – Christopher Kulei (Chairman, Kenya Flower Council).

The council members have invested significantly in reducing and recycling water usage, implementing biological pest management systems, utilizing solar energy, and adopting greener logistics to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, they have embraced various carbon measurement tools, which have enabled the sector to accurately assess emissions and identify areas for improvement.

Royal Flora Holland and the Dutch Flower Group are also key advocates of sustainability. They work closely with Kenyan growers to implement eco-friendly practices and ensure that the flowers meet the stringent environmental standards demanded by European markets. Their support has been instrumental in promoting the adoption of sustainable technologies and practices among Kenyan flower farmers.

Sustainability remains a core focus for the Kenyan floriculture sector, with various stakeholders playing critical roles. The Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) is pivotal in ensuring that all plant materials meet the necessary health and safety standards, thus safeguarding both the environment and consumers.

Despite the successes, Kenya’s flower sector still faces several challenges, including climate change and weather variability, which threaten production and increase costs of production. Pest and disease management remains a persistent issue, with a reliance on chemical pesticides posing environmental and health risks. Market access and competition from other flower-producing and emerging countries require continuous quality improvements and effective marketing. Compliance with environmental and social standards, limited access to affordable financing, and a high rate of inflation further complicate the industry’s landscape. Addressing these challenges is crucial for the sector’s sustainability and global competitiveness.

Looking ahead, the Netherlands will continue to play a crucial role in the development of Kenya’s floriculture industry. One area of potential growth is in the field of digital innovation. By leveraging Dutch expertise in agri-tech, Kenyan growers can adopt precision farming techniques, which can significantly enhance productivity and reduce environmental impact, to position the sector to be the most competitive, in the global arena.

Source: Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kenya
Author: Loise Wachira (Utmost Precision)

 

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IFTEX 2024 Really Was a Floral Showcase Success

Published: June 13, 2024

A floral fair that, definitely, left those in attendance yearning for more and looking forward to the next edition.

Held from June 4th to 6th at the Visa Oshwal Center in Nairobi’s Westlands District, this year’s International Floriculture Trade Expo (IFTEX), an event that shines a well-deserved spotlight on the Kenyan floriculture and plant industry, was one that without a doubt, matched its premise as the African continent’s premier flower event. Different institutions represented in the wide flower industry across the globe converged at this fair, and while at it, made their presence known through a varied array of products and services that they offer.

From breeders to growers, logistics providers, flower inputs suppliers, florists, and nearly everyone in the flower value chain, the Oshwal Center was a beehive of floral activities and everything flowers, right from its entrance, for the three days of the event. If you needed anything floral, you’d get it somewhere within the confines of the venue of the fair, after all, IFTEX’s key purpose is to bring the entire global flower community together to network, create connections and partnerships, engage, and even trade. 

If you missed it – which you shouldn’t in due course – Thursd (alongside myThursd) was there and brings you what you’d have experienced.

Bringing All Flower Industry Players Under One Roof

Kenya is a floral hotspot known for its array of beautiful roses, summer flowers, and varieties of plants. The East African country’s floriculture industry is one of the best performing anywhere across the world. And the 2024 IFTEX just served to showcase this notion, with hundreds of Kenyan growers, showcasing their floral trade alongside their international peers. 

From smallholder summer flower growers based in regions like Nyandarua, Kinangop, Kiambu, or Molo, to large growers found in major flower-production regions like Nanyuki, Nakuru, Naivasha, Eldoret, Timau, Nairobi, Kajiado, Molo, and many others across the country, the IFTEX provided a platform to bring all these together. But still, it was the beauty of the flowers that simply stood out. And the results were delightful, to say the least!

The fair began on a delightful crescendo on June 4th, picking up momentum as the days went by, and peaking on the 6th, leaving many still yearning for more, when it all came to a close. But such is always the case; all good things come in small packages… just so to keep one looking forward to the next time.

Even so, the 2024 IFTEX had it all. Varieties of roses from breeders such as De Ruiter, Georges Delbard, Select Breeding, E.G Hill, Meilland, Genviv, Jan Spek Rozen, United Selections, Kordes Rosen, Interplant Roses, Viking Roses, Nirp International, and others, blended with selections of flowers from other breeders such as Royal Van Zanten, Ball Horticultural Company, Könst Alstroemeria, Dümmen Orange, Schreurs, Icon Selections, Danziger, Murara Plants, and others to create bouquets with an amalgam of floral fragrances, beauty, and flair, bringing out an aura that was just as tantalizing as it was scintillating to experience.

Not to be left behind, growers including Xflora Group, Sian Flowers, Subati Group, Red Lands Roses, Shalimar Fresh, Primarosa, Heritage Flowers, Tambuzi Roses, Karen Roses, Uhuru Flowers, Rosetto, Isinya Roses, PJ Dave Flowers Group, Florenza, Exceptional Africalla, Flora Delight, Kikwetu Flowers, Everflora, Vegpro, Black Tulip Group, Credible Blooms, Sierra, Lenana Flowers, Mount Elgon Orchards and dozens of others, ensured they had enough of these flowers on showcase at the floral event.

Logistics companies like Airflo, Octoflor, Dutch Flower Group (DFG Africa), Q7 Air Cargo, DHL, Azalea Blooms, Herany Flora, and others were also represented just to enable those in attendance to know how to get their flowers to markets outside their regions.

Different Flowers Enthralled Attendees at IFTEX 2024

The fair was not just an ordinary one as different breeders and growers also presented their newest floral offerings. Those in attendance, without a doubt, had a feast for both their eyes and senses as the delightful flowers charmed everyone who perceived them.

Breeder De Ruiter, for instance, had on show varieties including its Dimension series featuring Spray Rose Pink Dimension®, Spray Rose Sweet Dimension®, Spray Rose Special Dimension®, and Rose Juicy Dimension®, alongside others like Rose Emira®, Rose Anne-Laure®, Rose Sorbonne®, Rose Shining Star. The breeder also presented Spray Rose Constellation and Spray Rose Orange Star (both from breeder E.G Hill) and Rose Morning Light and Rose Playa Blanca from breeder Genviv.

Based at Kenyan grower Nini Flowers Ltd in Naivasha, Select Breeding also showcased its numerous varieties including Rose Grand Select, Rose Classic Select, Rose Red Bentley, Rose Twister Select, Rose Everglow Select, and Rose Glamour Select, Rose Blue Lagoon, Rose Firefox, Rose Novastar, and Rose No Limit at the 2024 IFTEX.

Also present, United Selections, which has a partnership with Icon Selections, Könst Alstroemeria, and WAC Breeding, also showcased its varieties including Rose Nova Vita, Rose Premium Class, Rose Pink Wave, and Rose Rise & Shine, among numerous others, while the Colombian chrysanthemum breeding company showcased its premium mum varieties.

French breeder Georges Delbard, on the other hand, also had its numerous roses on showcase at the fair, including the Rose Wangari Maathai which resonated quite well with the Kenyan audience at the event. This variety which celebrates the Kenya environmental icon whose name it goes by, was also showcased by Red Lands Roses, its exclusive grower.

Others included smallholder summer flower growers, enhancing a summer flower cultivation trend that is fast gaining a grip in the country. They also showcased their different varieties. For instance, growers like Lenana Flowers had Chrysanthemums on show, while Fenmolt Flowers showcased its Kalanchoes, Asters, Hypericums, and Phlox.

Kranian Farms, also, had on display numerous of its floral offerings such as khella (Ammi visnaga), Delphiniums, Agapanthus, Gypsophila, Matthiola, Craspedia, and Eryngiums, while another grower, Unique Blooms Ltd also displayed its numerous summer flower varieties.

And since all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, on one of the fair’s days, IFTEX 2024 capped it off by organizing a fun get-together; throwing a party for all who participated in the event to celebrate the beauty and bounty of the flower industry. Here, networking and other engagements still carried on right into the late hours of the night, amid entertaining music, dance, and food.

Thus, in the organizer’s own words, the 2024 edition of IFTEX was successful. It had more exhibitors than ever before, more flower buying, and many more people attending. The flower trade show, according to Dick van Raamsdonk, the CEO of the HPP Exhibitions — IFTEX organizers — was one massive piece of flower trade, a pure floral business platform for the world of cut flowers, where everyone working in the overall floral industry was present. Such was this year’s fair. All eyes are now set on the next event.

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Source: Thursd.

 

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IFTEX 2024 breaks records

Published: June 13, 2024

The conclusion of the 11th and largest edition of the International Flower Trade Expo (IFTEX) in Nairobi, Kenya, marks a significant moment for the global floriculture industry. Held at the Visa Oshwal Center, the event showcased close to 200 growers and suppliers, highlighting the importance of Kenya as a hub for flower production and export. This expo not only provided a platform for Kenyan growers to connect with international buyers but also emphasized the growing demand for sustainable and ethically sourced flowers in the global market.

The success of IFTEX underscores the vitality of the flower industry in Kenya, which plays a crucial role in the country’s economy through job creation and export earnings, with about 4 million people currently working in Kenya’s flower industry. “This year there has been a growth of about 25%, and we have close to 200 exhibitors, which is a huge growth. Among all exhibitors are many flower growers showing their new varieties for export,” says Dick van Raamsdonk, General Director of HPP Exhibitions. FloralDaily was present to make a photo report and to learn about the developments in the floral industry.

Sustainability
The recent floods and extreme weather conditions in Kenya have posed significant challenges for local growers, showing the urgent need for sustainability in the floriculture sector. Chris Kulei, the Chairman of the Kenya Flower Council (KFC), said in his speech that these weather-related challenges are related to climate change, highlighting its impact on agriculture and specifically on the flower industry. This situation brings to light the critical importance of sustainable practices within the sector, not only to reduce the effects of climate change but also to ensure the long-term viability of the floriculture industry in Kenya.

IFTEX came at a good time, offering an ideal platform to discuss, share, and adopt sustainable practices. The expo focused on the importance of sustainability, showcasing innovations and strategies aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of flower farming and ensuring responsible water use.

The emphasis on sustainability at IFTEX reflects a growing awareness within the industry of the need to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change. For Kenyan growers, who are among the world’s leading exporters of cut flowers, adopting sustainable practices is not only essential for protecting the environment but also for maintaining their competitive edge in the global market. As the industry moves forward, the lessons and discussions from this edition of IFTEX are likely to play an important role in shaping the future of flower farming in Kenya and beyond, with sustainability at the core of its growth and development.

New varieties
The expo showcased a notable trend among flower growers to diversify their product offerings, with a particular emphasis on summer flowers. The increase in energy prices, especially noted in the Netherlands, has led to a shift in the global floral trade. Growers in Kenya are now including flowers that are more cost-effective to grow locally, like chrysanthemums. These have emerged as a popular choice among Kenyan growers due to their lower energy requirements for cultivation compared to traditional greenhouse flowers. Alstroemerias, known for their vibrant colors and long vase life, were also prominently featured at IFTEX, alongside roses, which continue to be ever so popular in Kenya’s flower export.

First time
There were quite a few companies promoting their business for the first time at IFTEX, and for many it was a great success. One of the exhibitors mentions: “We are here promoting our export business for the first time, and we already have decided we will be back here next year. Many of our Middle Eastern clients are here as well, and it is a great opportunity for us to meet with them and show what we have.”

Next year’s IFTEX will again take place in the month of June, with the dates yet to be determined. The HPP Exhibitions team is already busy preparing for the IFTF in Vijfhuizen (the Netherlands), which will take place from Tuesday, November 5, through Thursday, November 7.

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Source: FloralDaily

 

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Award winners of IFTEX 2024

Published: June 13, 2024

The winners of the Best Stand Design Competition are:

Category “Perishables“

1. Black Tulip Group (Platinum).
2. Imani Flowers (Gold)
3. Octoflor (Silver)
4. Subati Group (Bronze)

Category “Non-Perishables”

1. DHL Global Forwarding (Platinum)
2. Kuehne+Nagel (Gold)
3. Turkish Cargo (Silver)
4. Koppert Biological Systems (Bronze)

 

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Beware of attendee list scams and unofficial exhibiting listings!

Published: June 29, 2023

We would like to alert you to the presence of “unofficial” companies that are actively approaching attendees and exhibitors with offers to publish, purchase or order exhibitor/attendee lists from IFTEX. It is unfortunate that some past participants have become victims of these deceptive practices.

We want to emphasize that HPP Exhibitions, the organizer of IFTEX, does NOT provide visitor contact details to any third parties. Therefore, we strongly advise against responding to these requests, as these companies do not possess the genuine attendee list and are attempting to scam you.

Please remain cautious and vigilant when dealing with any communication regarding attendee lists. Protect your personal information and be wary of unsolicited offers that may compromise your security.

If you have any concerns or questions, please reach out to the official IFTEX organizers directly. Your trust and safety are our top priorities, and we are committed to ensuring a secure and successful event for all participants.

 

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Beware of possible hotel fraud

Published: June 29, 2023

There are ‘unofficial’ companies aggressively pursuing attendees/exhibitors to book discounted hotel rooms through their company. Unfortunately, some past attendees/exhibitors have fallen prey to these companies and have either:

• Been relocated with little or no warning
• Lost their significant deposits
• Not had the guest rooms they thought they had booked
• Not had the hotel they thought they had booked
• etc.

This has caused great hardship to these companies and individuals. Reservations made through an agency will be at your own risk. We advise you to book directly with hotels and not through a third party.

Such companies should be avoided, as there are no agencies affiliated to HPP Exhibitions, other than those mentioned on our website!

 

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