"The true growth of the sector is measured not only in exports but in the well-being of the communities"

In Colombia, flowers don't just beautify the world — they also transform communities. As the country's second-largest non-mining export product, floriculture is deeply rooted in rural development and social well-being. Cundinamarca accounts for 71 percent of national flower production, Antioquia for 27 percent, and the remaining 2 percent comes from other regions, creating an economic and social fabric that flourishes alongside its people.

Guided by this vision, Asocolflores — the Association of Colombian Flower Exporters — leads the strategy "Floriculture Grows with Its People." This initiative connects flower farms, local governments, and communities to build sustainable, trust-based relationships that go beyond environmental responsibility, recognizing that true sustainability begins with people.

© Asocolflores

Within this strategy, Asocolflores developed the Strategic Community Engagement Protocol, which serves as a practical guide for companies seeking to establish solid, respectful, and lasting relationships with neighboring communities. The protocol provides step-by-step guidance to design, implement, and assess engagement processes, helping companies move from isolated actions to structured, long-term social management based on dialogue, participation, and shared value.

Through this approach, Colombian floriculture has promoted initiatives that integrate well-being, education, environmental protection, infrastructure, and gender equity. In flower-growing municipalities, projects such as tactical urbanism in Tocancipá and Nemocón, ecological restoration in Facatativá, the alliance for 100 women in Bagadó, and urban home-garden programs in Pereira showcase how the sector transforms local realities and strengthens social cohesion. Each of these initiatives reflects a coordinated effort between companies, local authorities, and residents, proving that sustainable development blooms when everyone works together.

© Asocolflores

Since the introduction of the protocol, dozens of flower companies have strengthened their community relations, fostering long-term partnerships built on transparency, trust, and co-creation. These collaborations have evolved beyond traditional corporate social responsibility, generating structural solutions that improve quality of life, social inclusion, and territorial sustainability.

© Asocolflores

"Colombian floriculture has shown that the true growth of the sector is measured not only in exports but in the well-being of the communities that are part of its environment. Floriculture Grows with Its People is more than a strategy — it is a commitment to territorial development, trust, and shared prosperity," said Juan Sebastián Moncada, Director of Social Responsibility and Shared Value at Asocolflores.

With this strategy, Colombia's flower industry consolidates a model in which social responsibility is integral to competitiveness. By fostering collaboration and community dialogue, companies reduce risks, strengthen stability, and enhance the international reputation of the sector. This focus on shared prosperity demonstrates that where Colombian flowers grow, opportunities grow too — and that rural development can be inclusive, participatory, and sustainable.

Today, Colombian floriculture stands as an international benchmark in social sustainability and shared value creation. Behind every bouquet exported to more than 100 countries lies a story of commitment, empathy, and collective growth — a future cultivated not only in fertile soil but in the lasting relationships that make communities and companies bloom together.