AFRIFLORA signed the International Responsible Business Conduct (‘IRBC’) agreement on Floriculture

The International Responsible Business Conduct (‘IRBC’) agreement on Floriculture was signed on 2 July at the World Horti Center in Naaldwijk. Representatives from the Dutch floriculture sector have made agreements with the government, trade unions and NGOs about more responsible international production of ornamental flowers and plants.

The covenant was established after a period of intensive consultation led by the Social and Economic Council and builds on the existing sector initiative: the Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI). Minister Kaag for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation and Minister Schouten of Agriculture, Nature Management and Food Quality signed the covenant on behalf of the federal government.

AFRI FLORA has been closely involved in the realization of this covenant and is convinced that joint agreements in the areas crop protection, water consumption and wages contribute to a sustainable floriculture chain. On behalf of AFRI FLORA, the covenant was signed by its board member Michel van den Bogaard: “As rose growers with nurseries in Ethiopia we work every day on our impact on people and the environment. We believe that this can go hand-in-hand with healthy business operations and that we as a sector must jointly raise the bar. “