Italian horticulture strengthens ties with the United Kingdom
The Italian ornamental horticulture sector confirms the strategic importance of the UK market with an export value of €43 million in 2025 (+1.3% compared to 2024). During the London edition of Green Agorà, organised by Greenitaly (Fiere di Parma), the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) and the Italian Embassy, key figures from the sector came together to discuss growth, sustainability and the impact of climate change.
HTA launches autumn campaign: Make your garden a success, both this year and the next
Whilst the summer heat is still in the air, the horticultural sector is already looking ahead to autumn and even Christmas. But this period isn’t about winding down; it’s about seizing opportunities. The Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) is therefore launching the next phase of its ‘Your Garden Year’ campaign under the banner ‘Making the most of now and next year’.
Flower and plant market shows resilience in a challenging second quarter of 2026
Amid a period of economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and fluctuating consumer confidence, the floriculture sector is holding its own. In Q2 2026, Royal FloraHolland traded 4.8% fewer flowers and plants than last year, whilst turnover fell by 2.7%. The limited decline in turnover compared to the drop in volume shows that pricing remained stable in many product groups.
Update on the Crop Protection Covenant (Convenant Gewasbescherming)
Last week, the administrative consultation on the Crop Protection Covenant took place. Feedback from the members' webinar held on 2 July was incorporated into the process leading up to the covenant.
Boomkwekerij Maarten van Overbeek continues as Overbeek Bomen
As of 6 July, Boomkwekerij Maarten van Overbeek will continue under the name Overbeek Bomen. According to the company, the new name better reflects the development the organisation has undergone in recent years.
Garden sector continues to grow: Italian DIY market embraces greenery, wellbeing and innovation
The garden industry within Italian DIY superstores remains one of the most dynamic and forward-looking segments of the market. In the first quarter of 2026, the category achieved a turnover of €130.6 million, representing growth of 8.3% compared to the same period a year earlier. This confirms the garden industry’s role as a strategic growth driver within the DIY industry, at a time when other segments are under pressure. This is reported by the Italian trade fair Bricoday, to be held at Fiera Milano–Rho on 23–24 September 2026, based on Nielsen Q measurements.
Priorities for the horticultural industry in France
Global trade in ornamental plants is characterised by stark contrasts between dynamic exporting regions and major import markets facing economic pressures. By 2026, the European ornamental plant industry will be operating in a paradoxical context: public demand for plants remains strong, but at the same time businesses must contend with rising energy and cultivation costs, labour shortages, regulation, climate change and rapidly changing customer expectations.
Fourth Generation Have Taken Over Solgården
At the ornamental plant company Solgården in southern Sweden, a generational transition was officially completed in January. The new owners have been active within the company for many years and will continue to build on the strong brand that Solgården has become since its founding in 1958.
Jobba Grönt Has Increased Interest in the Green Industry
In 2025, the Swedish farmers' organizations LRF and Gröna Arbetsgivare celebrated the 10th anniversary of their initiative Jobba Grönt, but the project continues in order to attract more people to work in the green industries by highlighting the opportunities for meaningful jobs with sustainability in focus. Since the start, young people's attitudes have changed in a positive direction.
'The industry focuses too much on what happens above ground'
When walking through a tree nursery, people often automatically look at what is visible above ground: height growth, branching, uniformity and colour. According to Rob Tolenaars of TTS, however, this certainly doesn't say everything about the quality of a plant. “The real foundation is below ground,” he states. “That is ultimately where it is determined how strongly a plant develops.”
TTS joins GGP.news
With its practical view on rooting, tray development and young plant quality, TTS has built a clear position within the international tree nursery industry in recent years. The company, owned by Rob Tolenaars, focuses on tray systems that not only make efficient production possible, but above all contribute to a stronger root system and more uniform plant development.
Elimination of reduced VAT rate on ornamental horticultural products has major impact
The government intends to eliminate the reduced VAT rate for ornamental horticulture products as of 1 January 2028. Erik Stuurbrink, chairman of the sector group Bomen, Vaste Planten en Zomerblomeen (Trees, Perennials and Summer Flowers) of LTO Nederland, questions whether the government is aware of the long-term impact of this measure.
Groen van bij ons, Flemish campaign ‘Groene planten, vaste klanten’
Groen van bij ons has launched a campaign in Flanders to inspire garden owners to start working with green perennials. With the slogan ‘Groene planten, vaste klanten’ ('Green plants, steady customers), the Flemish Centre for Agro- and Fisheries Marketing (VLAM) aims to convince consumers to choose perennial outdoor plants, which they can enjoy all year round.
Tree Nursery Hergo: steering on precision in a changing cultivation practice
In an industry where labour is becoming scarcer and pressure on chemical crop protection continues to increase, Tree Nursery Hergo deliberately chooses a different approach. Over the past few years, the company has developed into a practical example of how technology and craftsmanship can strengthen each other in tree nursery production. Not simply by increasing scale, but by organising production in a smarter and more precise way.
“Technology should not be interesting because it is new, but because it actually works in the field.”
Nursery De Weimer spreads risks with a wide assortment and invests in container production
Nursery De Weimer, owned by Corné Leenaerts and located in Zundert, the Netherlands, is not a typical specialised nursery. The company combines forest and hedge plants, shrubs, potted roses and container production. This diversified structure developed over the years, but has now become a clear strategy: spreading risks and serving different markets. At the same time, the nursery is investing in container production and greenhouse cultivation to reduce dependence on field production and gain more control over production planning.
Brasserie ROOTZ adds a new dimension to Business Centre Treeport
In 2024, the multidisciplinary knowledge centre for the tree nursery industry at Business Centre Treeport, ROOTZ, opened its doors. ROOTZ functions as a living laboratory, testing environment and meeting place, matching what the name stands for: Ruimte voor Onderzoek en Ontmoeting met Treeport Zundert (space for research and collaboration with Treeport Zundert). The main focus of the knowledge centre is to facilitate activities related to the tree nursery industry. This includes plant research, vertical farming, research into active substances, education, robotics, energy and biobased construction, soil and water analyses and much more. Sustainability is the guiding principle. Naturally, an innovative design was chosen for the building, including water collection and a green roof. The exterior façade is fitted with special wall panels made from residual wood streams and will partly be covered with living greenery.
Circulation plan in place to manage fuel tourism traffic
At the business parks Hazeldonk, Meer and Business Centre Treeport (BCT) along the E19 in Meer, a circulation plan will be introduced to prevent through traffic from ending up in traffic jams caused by fuel tourism. Many international drivers come to Belgium to purchase fuel, as prices there are significantly lower than in the Netherlands.
Breda, Hoogstraten and Zundert will increase cooperation on the three business parks Hazeldonk, Transportzone Meer and Business Centre Treeport
Today, the municipalities of Breda and Zundert and the City of Hoogstraten took an important step towards the future of the cross-border business park area along the A16/E19 on the Belgian-Dutch border. On 5 March, the 'Convenant Grensverbond' (border alliance convenant) was signed: a new and sustainable international collaboration that is necessary to jointly address cross-border challenges.
Tree nursery industry report: industry remains stable, but differences between companies are increasing
The autumn of 2025 was short, erratic and unpredictable for the tree nursery industry. Nevertheless, the industry generally managed to hold up well. Turnover remained on average stable and exports increased significantly. At the same time, it is becoming clear that the differences between companies are increasing and that financial pressure on some entrepreneurs is increasing considerably. This emerged from the Sectorrapport Boomkwekerij Najaar 2025 (tree nursery industry report) published by Van Oers.
Dutch urban tree tenders are becoming more demanding
Urban tree tenders in the Netherlands are becoming more demanding and performance-oriented. While size and price remain relevant, municipalities increasingly focus on long-term performance under urban stress conditions. For nursery growers supplying the Dutch market, this means that demonstrable quality and documentation are gaining importance.