“In essence, the rules governing crop protection in Europe and Africa are similar”

Maybritt: "I explain that complexity in Brussels. What works in the Netherlands or elsewhere in Europe does not automatically work in Kenya or Ethiopia, and vice versa. It can sometimes be difficult to convey that nuance, partly because of the negative portrayal of imported flowers in the media. I continue to explain how professional, innovative and forward-thinking growers work, with a focus on the environment and people. And just how many steps have already been taken, including in the area of crop protection."

Dirk: "The perception that anything goes in Africa is hard to shake off. The strategic vision of African growers is often the same as that of European growers. Farms in Africa, too, want to use as few chemical plant protection products and as many organic ones as possible. We hold the Silver certificate from the Kenya Flower Council and EPHEA (Ethiopia). That is in line with MPS. Our farms operate in accordance with international standards, are FSI-compliant and practise Integrated Pest Management (IPM), with the use of pesticides always being a last resort. What's more, crop protection products are expensive, so why use them unnecessarily?"

Policy versus practice

Maybritt: "Countries do not need to have exactly the same rules, as long as the measures are well-founded and do not hinder trade. It remains important to ensure equal access to crop protection options, safety for people, animals and the environment, and a level playing field for growers. Rules must take practical considerations into account. Maximum residue levels apply to food crops for reasons of food safety and consumer exposure. If we're not careful, this will be applied directly to the floriculture sector, even though flowers have no bearing on food safety and the practical implications are often underestimated. It is my job to monitor that balance between policy and practice and to influence adjustments where possible."

Dirk: "This lobbying helps us. But as growers, we need to be more united. This negative perception is often based on isolated incidents or a single grower who doesn't take the rules very seriously. A major threat to the collective! As a cooperative, we need to act even more as a single collective. That way, we protect our own market."

Maybritt: "Royal FloraHolland and the Dutch floriculture sector are still taken very seriously in Brussels, precisely because we represent a large number of growers and have a clear stance. That gives us influence, but it also comes with responsibility. Growers must continue to invest and innovate in the areas of transparency and sustainability. In this way, they – and the sector – can stay in control of the future and maintain access to the market."