Neighbourly advice COPF expands services

Australia - The recent liquidation of the IHM flower exporting compa-
ny in New South Wales (NSW) resulted in individual growers losing
up to A$50,000 (A$1=US$0.77). Their problems are further complicat-
ed by the loss of sales in the lucrative US market. Australia has slipped
from eleventh to fourteenth on the imports list. In the same four-year
period, New Zealand exports to the USA rose to eighth from twelfth.
NSW wildflower production is worth about A$60 million annually,
and should be much more according to NSW Wildflower Growers
Association (WGA) chairman Gordon Dick, who acknowledged the
industry was in trouble at the annual NSW WGA conference at the end
of February. A leading New Zealand exporter, Mike Limbrick of New
Zealand Blooms said Australia was burdened by a A$6/kg freight rate
to the US and its competitiveness was also suffering because of an
inflated Australian dollar. He added, Peru was now growing and had
entered the US market for Australian waxflower and if New Zealand
could give any advice, it would be to go for the luxury end of the US
and Japanese markets; spread risks by crop diversification and pay
more attention to quality and varieties. Japanese flower imports
jumped from 11% to 17% in the past four years and their website sales
are increasing.
Angus Stewart, plant breeder with Ramm Botanicals, said, Genetic
selection was the key to increasing Australian wildflower varieties and
the overall market and I consider we receive little government assis-
tance compared to other sectors of primary industry. Robert Sutton of
the Federal Governments Austrade organisation disagreed, and told
the conference that limited interest from Australian growers in the US
market was reflected in a poor showing at the Miami Flower Show.
The government was unwilling to spend money on those sectors of
primary industry that was not prepared to help itself. (ap)
Canada Canadian growers of bedding, floral and nursery crops are
receiving more industry support thanks to an expanded level of service
offered by the Canadian Ornamental Plant Foundation (COPF).
Subscribers to COPF can now use the non-profit organization as a
one-stop-shop for accessing new plant and royalty information.
Janet MacLeod, production manager for Westbrook Greenhouses
inGrimsby, Ontario, has found the service invaluable. The time saving
is huge for me. I dont have to sift through piles of paper looking for
the royalty rates and trying to figure out which varieties we can and
cant propagate anymore. I wish all breeders used COPF services so
that the job of royalty calculations and reporting could be quicker! If
we need information of any kind regarding protected plants, all I have
to do is contact COPF. They do all the research for me.
For Eric Voogt, owner of Westcan Greenhouses in Langley, British
Columbia, the benefits have hit the profit-mark and allow the compa-
ny to better serve their clientele. Voogt comments, Our customers
constantly demand new plant varieties because new makes a splash
for retailers and growers. COPF helps us locate the latest introductions
and sorts out the licensing. They help Westcan serve our customers.
Peggy Walsh Craig, managing director of COPF, says, The importance
of patents and plant breeders rights is increasing. Growers need to
know more about it than ever before. Our new options are especially
useful for growers, taking the guesswork out of propagation rights
management. Were very pleased to make this information more acces-
sible for everyone. COPF has been serving the industry for over 40
years, mainly by anticipating the needs of breeders and growers. Its
mission is to provide effective solutions in the management of propa-
gation rights for growers and breeders to the benefit of the horticulture
industry. (www.copf.org)

Editorial
Quality is a subject that is repetitively pushed to the forefront for business success. Our visit to the cut gerbera grower Aad
van der Wilt was no exception. He was particularly keen on year round consistency saying, Year round quality is improving.
Rather than the traditional two-third increase in production in the spring, we now see only a one-third volume rise. This is
achieved by the combination of modern facilities and artificial lighting and those who do not adapt cannot survive. You have
to invest in the business for quality production. Market traders want the same high quality all year round. It is no longer
accepted that a poorer quality is delivered at a higher cost over the winter while in the spring, we bring high quality flowers
to the market at low cost; its an outdated concept that cannot be sold in todays society. The recent trend for artificial light-
ing signals other growers accept a similar strategy.
Meanwhile, for those sensitive to the energy costs attached to the supplementation of naturally low light levels with artificial lighting, we also report
this month on the Danish research into a dynamic climate control system. In brief, the environment is adapted to the most growth limiting factor -
light, with experiments on pot plants showing that it is possible to save between 25% and 48% of energy consumption without affecting plant quality
and with limited changes in production time. This move away from the more constant climate target is gaining respect among those who have tested it
with the plants adaptation to varying conditions also noted to be of benefit to the keeping quality.

Anabel Evans, Editor Flower Tech

4 FlowerTECH 2005, vol. 8/no. 2 www.HortiWorld.nl

 News
Export record for fourth consecutive year
Brazil - A new record was set for the Northeastern states. below the historical average and a diminishing
Brazilian exports of flowers and plants in Fresh foliage and branches are the only trend. Ibraflor projects further increases in
2004 at US$23.5 million, 21% above 2003 item where sales decreased in 2004 com- 2005: between 20 and 30% growth in value.
(Table 1). Seedlings of ornamental plants pared to 2003, smaller purchases from tradi- Similar to 2004, however, currency fluctuation
(especially chrysanthemums) were the largest tional markets not yet having been offset by determines the final figure. At an average 25%
item, responsible for nearly half of all sales to new countries. growth, Brazilian export totals would be near
exports. The EU, USA and Japan were the At the years end the flower trade balance was US$30 million. (mm)
main destinations. Bulbs and similar prod- US$17.6 million, since imports have also been
ucts have been the traditional second item in
value, 23% of all exports, with the Cear
Table 1. Brazilian exports of flowers and plants in 2004.
states new bulb production accounting for
almost 6%. Fresh cut flowers have shown the
largest relative increase of all items; 87% Exported items US$ % of total Main destination
compared to 2003, due to increased sales to (million) and %
the US and Portugal, plus a threefold Seedlings of ornamental plants 11.39 48.46% The Netherlands, 45.44%
increase in shipments to the Netherlands, Bulbs and such 5.42 23.08% The Netherlands, 86.3%
and novelty sales of ready bouquets direct to Fresh cut flowers 4.88 20.77% USA, 60%
retail stores, an international trend. The Dried foliage 1.50 6.4% USA, 36 %
majority of exported flowers are temperate Orchid seedlings 0.12 0.5% USA, 24.29%
species such as roses; tropical flowers repre- Fresh foliage and branches 0.8 0.3% Italy, 69.5%
sent a smaller segment, which has also Data Source: Hrtica Consulting
grown based on the production in

Chinese import threat to local growers

Thailand Local flower producers are urging the government to
impose restrictions on the imports of cut flowers from China. Customs
Department figures show that the value of flower imports from China
currently accounts for approximately half of the Baht 2 billion (US$50
million) worth of cut flowers sold annually in Thailand. The Miss Lily
company founder and CEO Rawat Chindapol has urged the govern-
ment to assist the flower industry by establishing an organisation to
directly oversee the industry. He stated at a press conference, Cheap
imported flowers from China have been flooding the market ever since
the free trade area (FTA) agreement between Thailand and China was
signed in 2003, with a devastating affect on local flower growers whose
production costs are three times higher. I have urged the government to
set up a special unit to supervise the industry, and to offer financial
and technological support to local flower growers. Meanwhile said
Rawat, his company will show its support for the local cut-flower
industry by expanding its distribution network to outlets at local
hypermarkets and co-operate with convenience and other speciality
stores in stocking flower coolers in office and similar buildings. (ap)

Centre to speed up orchid exports

Malaysia While the president of
the Commercial Orchid Growers
Association Wong Kiang Ho
believes in the potential of the
local orchid industry to increase
exports, he said in an interview:
A major problem is that local
orchid exporters must comply
with a tedious and lengthy
process involving lots of red tape
before they can have their orchids
exported by air. This process takes
at least two days, a great handicap
as freshness is all important in
the cut flower business. Thus, the
governments plan to establish a
one-stop collection centre for
flower exports is a Godsend for
the orchid industry. Exporters will
not have to waste time moving
their flowers from one depart-
ment to another.
Orchid production covers
around 750 ha with 70% in Johor
and the remainder in Selangor.
The 100 growers produce around
100 million stems annually from
farms ranging between 5 ha to 30
ha and the area accounts for near-
ly 60% of the countrys total fresh
flower production. Value of
orchid exports rose from RM 34
million in 2001 to RM 37 million
in 2002 and RM 41 million in
2003 (RM1=US$0.26). Figures for
2004 are not available but are
estimated at RM 43 million.
Japan accounts for 85% of
exports, North America 6%,
Australia 5% and the European
Union 4%. In addition the local
market has also grown to about
RM 300,000 per month in the
last two years.
Wong further commented: It
would be an asset if the govern-
ment would consider allowing
orchid enthusiasts who want to go
commercial to apply for funding
from the RM 300 million allocat-
ed to supporting small and medi-
um industries. I am happy, how-
ever, that the government has set
aside 80 ha in Ayer Hitam, Johor,
specifically to improve and devel-
op local orchid cultivation. (ap)

www.HortiWorld.nl FlowerTECH 2005, vol. 8/no.2 5