One of the project’s co-leads, Jill Timms, was recently invited to present at the Farming the Future webinar held by the Soil Association and the Organic Growing Alliance on the 12th of August 2020. The exciting and thought-provoking event was introduced by Ben Raskin, the Head of Horticulture at Soil Association and on the board of the Organic Growing Alliance, where the following experts in the flower industry including Jill participated. These were: Fiona Haser Bizony at Electric Daisy Flower Farm and Jo Wright at Organic Blooms.
Jill discussed the Sustainable Cut-Flowers research project, in particular highlighting the global challenges and local chances. Such key issues and barriers included: environmental footprint, water footprint, carbon footprint, labour and social issues and floristry practice. In turn, there is a local opportunity of delivering an alternative to such barriers – a move towards British, locally grown and organic flowers. Alongside an example of a flower farm with fantastic examples of environmental and biological innovation, Red Land Roses. Concluding, with an insight into the issues with the flower certifications.
“The Soil Association is a membership charity that campaigns for healthy and humane sustainable farming and land use… and we certify organic businesses. The Organic Growers Alliance is a network of growers and horticulturists and farmers. It’s run by growers for growers!”
Ben Raskin
Webinar Purpose
The webinar was prompted by COVID which has impacted flower growers immensely and builds upon the Organic Flower Conference that Organic Growers Alliance held in 2019. The aim was to create discussions around new ideas and opportunities in relation to how the industry has been impacted by COVID. The webinar focus was on the flower market and market opportunities.
We look forward to future follow-up webinars…
