Dutch growers Alexander, Mathieu Barendse and Rene van Dijk are major shareholders in Samore Flower Farm. In Ethiopia, they are proving that commercial success and inclusive entrepreneurship go hand in hand. "Setting up a company is the best form of development cooperation."

Sjaak van Schie BV specialises in growing hydrangeas. The company supplies these flowers throughout Europe, to various types of customers and in all forms, from cutting to flowering finished product. It does so from its HQ in Maasdijk as well as from Portugal. Thanks to its modern facility in southern Europe, Sjaak van Schie can deliver year-round, in the most sustainable way possible.

"International supply is necessary for the future of the cooperative."

The best sustainable innovations come from the floriculture sector itself. Growers are developing smart solutions for their own gardens or greenhouses, and scaling up to share their knowledge with more entrepreneurs. The Sustainability Award brings together the best developments in sustainability each year, the icing on the cake being a prize for the three best ideas.

Sinds 2024 is Angela Mutters-van der Maarel algemeen directeur bij Maarel Orchids. Nu zorgt ze dat het bedrijf de volgende stap kan maken op duurzaamheid en goed werkgeverschap. Dát Angela in het familiebedrijf zou stappen, lag niet meteen vast. Angela: “Ik wilde eerst zélf ontdekken wat er in de wereld te doen was. En mijn ouders stimuleerden dat ook. Ze zeiden: ‘Kies iets wat je leuk vindt, dat hoeft niet per se in de tuinbouw.’”

Access to 90 million German consumers? Thanks to Veiling Rhein Maas - a joint venture between Royal FloraHolland and Germany's Landgard - this is relatively easy. Four questions for managing director Cees Hoekstra.

Our cooperative offers services for Dutch and international members. This is why we are and will remain the largest international floriculture platform. But how do international growers use these services, and do they see room for improvement? We discuss this question with Eunice Nduta, sales and marketing manager and co-director of Benev Flora in Kenya.

We are an international cooperative. As a result, we have members with different backgrounds and different interests, but each member breeds with a love for nature.