Floriculture International: European and American Economic Systems, Production Systems, and What It Means for the Flow of High Quality Ornamental Crop Genetics
ABSTRACT: Floriculture has always been an international industry, but rapid globalization has accelerated the frequency and manner in which we interact with our neighbors in industry. Due to regional variances in consumption (form and frequency) and limits on production, differences in methods have developed in each region to meet the local needs. How and why these variances occur and the issues they address provide insight into our domestic industry and improvements to make and pitfalls to avoid. After two trips to IPM, the world’s largest international Floriculture and Nursery exhibition, speaking with hundreds of professionals around the world, and visiting many floriculture operations and facilities in Germany, I have observed some differences and similarities, and will address their significance for the US market and the larger global trade in floriculture products. Some innovations are novel and are only suited for the region, but many are lessons that can be reiterated to student and seasoned professional alike. Economies of scale, the free market system vs. centralized production, and intensely vertically integrated production vs. the broadening of niches are just a few topics that will be mentioned.
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