Big news was the change from DNA Green Group to Dümmen Orange. The company revealed the new name, the logo and the brand values of the company at all facilities in 16 countries on Thursday April 23 2015. Well-known names as Lex+, Bartels, Terra Nigra, Dümmen Group, Agribio China, Agribio Colombia, Oro, PLA as well as the production locations changed their name immediately to Dümmen Orange. The established brand names Rijnplant, Ecke, Oglevee, Red Fox, Fides, Japan Agribion and Barberet & Blanc will disappear from the market over time.
Also in April 2015, we had the opportunity to pay a visit to the ‘largest hedera nursery in the Western Hemisphere’. This 12ha sized greenhouse is mainly used for the cultivation of hederas and is located in de Kwakel, the Netherlands. Click here to take a peak at this nursery.
A dangerous tree virius entered Europe the end of April 2015.
The European Parliament was concerned about the spread of Xylella fastidiosa (an olive tree virus) in Europe. Sunday, the dangerous bacteria was found in Rungis, France, where Europe's largest market for plants and vegetables is situated. Earlier, the bacterium was discovered in Italy. The situation was found to be alarming. 
The Swiss plant grower Rutishauser started the rebuilding project of their greenhouse. After a devastating fire to Ruthishauser's production greenhouse in Züberwangen, Switzerland, that destroyed around 80% of their 5 ha facility, the Rutishauser family entrusted Logiqs with the design and construction of a state of the art automated mobile bench system for their new “Ecofarm”.
From 22 to 24 of April the Hortiflorexpo IPM Shanghai took place in Shanghai New international Expo Center in Shanghai, China. Over 600 exhibitors from 24 countries welcomed the more than 20,000 visitors that found their way to the Shanghai New International Exhibition Centre. With two sold out exhibition halls, the show was large, and with so many visitors in just three days, there were some very busy days for the exhibitors. HortiDaily.com was also present to make a photo report of the event. Click here for the Photo Report.
Further that month, experts discovered the proteins that give the flower its unique 'lip' petal. The orchid is one of the most unique and instantly recognisable flowers in the world. It has evolved a so-called lip - a large and irregular modified petal, to attract insects - but the driving force behind this unusual shape was not known, until now. Researchers have found that its shape is determined by two competing groups of proteins and by tweaking them, they can convert this lip into a standard petal.