"We are proud to tell the country that Colombia has the second oldest certification for the flower sector in the world.", says Martha Méndez, director of Florverde Sustainable Flowers said that. Florverde is celebrating its 25th anniversary and its international reputation and undeniable contribution to the sustainability of this sector make it one of the best examples of good national agricultural practices and commitment to our nation's exports.
In this sense, Méndez says: "we are immensely honored by the recognition we have received from the flower sector worldwide for turning 25. We feel obliged to continue working for the sustainability of floriculture, always with social and economic respect for all the workers who make it possible."
In the Netherlands, Jeroen Oudheusden, executive director of the Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI), a global organization that currently has about 80 members from the floricultural sector in different countries, says that "this is a celebration that the world needs. Florverde has helped us build the path to sustainability with flowers and has shown that this is a matter of responsible producers and shared leadership. Also, their serious and committed work based on reliable indicators and data is very important for the generation of a supply chain with the best criteria for sustainable development."
In Geneva, Mathieu Lamolle, senior advisor on sustainability standards at the International Trade Centre (ITC) (a joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations), says that "we promote initiatives that really contribute to improving the working conditions and the social and environmental impact of companies around the world. Florverde has led the way and become an example, responding to international trends in sustainable supply chains in the agricultural sector. We have the neutrality of the United Nations and we can assure that its indicators have reached a very high level, giving the sector great power to access new international markets."
Florverde started as an internal code of conduct for the sector. In 2001, it became a second-party verification system, and in 2005 it evolved into an independent third-party certification system. A seal like Florverde is something that many other players in the agricultural sector, nationally and internationally, surely aspire to obtain.
The good practices implemented by Florverde have allowed certified crops to record a 50% reduction in the use of chemical pesticides and practically the total elimination of the use of more toxic pesticides. The use of bio-inputs has increased and Florverde farms have boosted Integrated Pest Management by 600% in the last 10 years, while the rainwater use indicator has increased by 50%. Meanwhile, at the social level, 100% of our workers have written contracts, their hiring process is fully traceable, and their duties are carried out in environments that respect their health and safety conditions, prioritizing life."
During the presentation of Florverde's 25th anniversary to the media, the Technical and Administrative Secretariat of the certification gave special recognition to the president of Asocolflores, Augusto Solano, for his management and commitment to sustainable floriculture and good environmental practices to ensure the efficient use of natural resources, the protection of ecosystems and the reduction of the sector’s environmental impact.
According to the director of Florverde, Solano's support has been fundamental for the certification to reach the high levels of recognition it has today and to have become the preferred choice of many flower producers and buyers worldwide.
For the president of Asocolflores, "the role of FlorVerde Sustainable Flowers is hugely important. Thanks to it, Colombian flowers have a robust certification that has managed, among other things, to foster a culture of social and economic development and respect for natural wealth in farms and crops, fully aligned with the 2030 agenda.
For more information
:
Florverde
www.florverde.org
