Global Hort Leaders Reflect on Resilience in the Face of Adversity

Posted by Brian Sparks|September 22, 2020

The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) recently brought together a lineup of expert international industry speakers to share experiences of the impacts of COVID-19 on the horticulture industry, as well as the prospective outlook for the future.

The 200-plus delegates at “Recovery from Crisis – the Future for Ornamentals,” held in a virtual format on Sept. 15, addressed the key challenges faced by the industry over the last six months, the lessons learned, and plans for the future.

The opening session on Crisis Management featured keynote speaker Dr. Charlie Hall of Texas A&M University, who spoke about the requirement for strong leadership during this challenging period, with the need to balance an empathetic approach to your workforce and customers with a rational line to protect financial performance.

Following Hall’s presentation, Carin van Huet from Rabobank looked at the challenges that lie ahead, including higher unemployment, reduced labor turnover, and lower disposable incomes. Working together to help raise the profile of the sector is key to demonstrating the value that flowers, plants, and green infrastructure bring to our lives, according to van Huet.

A “Creating a Strong Industry for the Future” panel session looked at the impacts of the pandemic across the world. Despite the challenges, some have found operational efficiencies in new ways of working that they will take forward in a post-COVID environment. On a worldwide basis, there has been greater recognition of the positive effect of the industry on climate, health, and quality of life. The key message was to be ready to adapt to take advantage of the opportunity for growth over the next few years.