Presenting

Business 56 May | 2022 WHICH COUNTRIES ARE THE BIGGEST PRODUCERS OF SPECIFIC CUT FLOWER TYPES ROSES Ecuador is the largest producer of roses in the world. TULIPS The Netherlands produces 80 percent of the world's tulips. CARNATIONS Colombia produces the most carnations annually. ORCHIDS Thailand is the biggest producer of orchids globally. PEONIES The Netherlands is the world's largest producer of peonies. Source: Petal Republic our most valuable asset," the company states. "Our farms and partner farms provide nurseries to support single mothers, who account for 80 percent of their workforces. We provide programs such as family planning, education, drug abuse prevention and chemical management. Our farms and partner farms promote a healthy, equitable workplace that supports farmers, workers and their communities." I spoke with Pieter Landman, creative director of Sande Flowers in Ecuador, about the subject. "Our farm employs around 600 people, more than 60 percent of whom are women," he remarks. "Our HR department oversees health care and provides information on health and social care to workers at the farm, as well as [improving] their social lives." It is important to know that women are a huge part of the fl ower farm workforce, especially in developing countries, and the fl ower industry has created opportunities that have positively aff ected—and even changed—the lives of women around the world. SUSTAINABILITY People around the globe are becoming more eco conscious and, as a result, are improving the way they do things in order to minimize their eff ect on the planet. e fl ower sector has committed to being more socially responsible and is also making improvements every day. One example is Equifl or/Rio Roses' commitment to sustainable agricultural practices for their farms and partner farms in Colombia and Ecuador. "Our practices actively protect the health of the workers at our farms and partner farms, and we minimize agrochemical use, to keep soil and waterways clean," the company affi rms. " e design of the greenhouses at our farms and partner farms enable us to harvest and utilize rainwater to irrigate our plants and treat our fl owers. We estimate that 80 percent of the water our farms use comes from rainwater reservoirs, minimizing the need to use water from rivers or wells. In addition, our drip irrigation systems are ecologically sound; promote healthier fl owers; and reduce pests, weeds and fungal growth." In Ecuador, Expofl ores' "Flor Ecuador Certifi ed" was established in 2005 as a social and sustainable program for the country's cut fl ower producers. e program's goal is to promote safety, sustainability and compliance, and it sets standards and promotes sustainability throughout the country's fl oral industry via the effi cient management of natural resources and the establishment of sustainable processes for the care of the environment. Another example is Asocolfl ores' initiatives that positively impact the environment in Colombia. "With regard to environmental initiatives and the measurement of our impact in the sector, we have been measuring the social and environmental performance of our fl ower growing companies for more than 22 years through our 'Florverde Impact, Monitoring and Evaluation System (I,M&E),'" the organization states. Every month, more than 82 percent of Asocolfl ores-member companies register information about their water withdrawal sources, chemical pesticides use, waste, energy use and emissions, as well as employee absenteeism and accidents. e organization now has more than 1 million records that enable them to know the status of its member farms' eff orts; to analyze trends; to create strategies for the continuous improvement of the sector, such as minimizing emissions with renewable energies and eco-friendly refrigerants; and to be even more socially responsible regarding the well-being of farm workers and their communities. Asocolfl ores

• Cover