Newsscape March 2019

Weed Man USA purchases Canadian territory rights

After nearly 50 years as Weed Man’s president, co-founder Brenda Rice has announced her retirement. Keeping ownership in the Weed Man network, the master franchisor for the U.S., spearheaded by CEO Roger Mongeon, has formed a new company, TH Canada, and has taken over leadership of Canadian territories. In total, the team now oversees over 680 territories worldwide.

Weed Man was launched in Mississauga, Ont., in 1970 by the late Desmond “Des” Rice and his wife Brenda. The couple started franchising in 1976 and their vision to be the trusted lawn care company became a reality in the U.K. and across North America.

Jennifer Lemcke, COO of the company, promises to work with all Weed Man Canada franchisees. “The transition has been exhilarating and my team respects the responsibility we now have to take this recognized brand to new heights as we enter the future as a united front,” Lemcke said.

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Health Canada issues statement on glyphosate

Health Canada issued a public statement in January following objections to its 2017 re-evaluation of glyphosate.

“No pesticide regulatory authority in the world currently considers glyphosate to be a cancer risk to humans at the levels at which humans are currently exposed,” the government agency said. “We continue to monitor for new information related to glyphosate, including regulatory actions from other governments, and will take appropriate action if risks of concern to human health or the environment are identified.”
The 2017 “Re-evaluation Decision RVD2017-01, Glyphosate” found:

• “Glyphosate is not genotoxic and is unlikely to pose a human cancer risk.
• Dietary (food and drinking water) exposure associated with the use of glyphosate is not expected to pose a risk of concern to human health.
• Occupational and residential risks associated with the use of glyphosate are not of concern, provided that updated label instructions are followed.
• The environmental assessment concluded that spray buffer zones are necessary to mitigate potential risks to non-target species (for example, vegetation near treated areas, aquatic invertebrates and fish) from spray drift.
• When used according to revised label directions, glyphosate products are not expected to pose risks of concern to the environment.
• All registered glyphosate uses have value for weed control in agriculture and non-agricultural land management.”

Eight of Canada’s 10 provinces currently have restrictions on the use of glyphosate.

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UN Names 2020 International Year of Plant Health

The International Year of Plant Health is an initiative to highlight the importance of plant health.

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The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution proclaiming 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH). The effort is expected to increase awareness among the public and policy makers of the importance of healthy plants and the necessity to protect them in order to achieve sustainable development goals.

“The International Year of Plant Health is a key initiative to highlight the importance of plant health to enhance food security, protect the environment and biodiversity, and boost economic development,” International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) Secretary, Jingyuan Xia said.

“Despite the increasing impact of plant pests, resources are scarce to address the problem. We hope this new International Year of Plant Health will trigger greater global collaboration to support plant health policies at all levels, which will contribute significantly to the Sustainable Development Agenda,” he added.

The UN General Assembly invited the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with the IPPC Secretariat, to serve as the lead agency to spearhead activities, and called on governments, civil society, and the private sector to engage at global, regional and national levels. An International Plant Health Conference will be among thousands of plant health events to be held globally throughout 2020.

The IPPC is an international treaty from 1952 that provides a framework to protect the world’s plant resources from the harm caused by pests. It is currently composed of 183 contracting parties.

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Gediflora wins International Grower of the Year

The International Gediflora of Belgium was named International Grower of the Year (IGOTY) 2019.

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Gediflora of Belgium was named International Grower of the Year (IGOTY) 2019 by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH).

Gediflora won the coveted Gold Rose award, presented by Steven van Schilfgaarde of Royal FloraHolland. The company was also a Gold award winner in the Young Plants category. The AIPH IGOTY awards, now in their tenth year, are held annually to celebrate excellence and best practices in ornamentals production. The 2019 awards took place on Jan. 22, at IPM Essen, Germany.

Gediflora is a breeder and propagator of potted chrysanthemums. Now a third-generation business, it serves more than 30 countries and has over 50 per cent market share in Europe, 30 per cent in the U.S. and 40 per cent worldwide. The company’s mission is to make growers successful with its genetics which produce an innovative, wide variety of easy-to-grow ball-shaped mums.

The IGOTY jury, comprised of six internationally renowned horticulture experts and chaired by AIPH Vice-President Tim Edwards, said, “Gediflora excels in its field and is true to its motto: ‘Dream, dare, do and do better.’ As a worldwide, leading specialist in chrysanthemums, this business demonstrates outstanding innovation and production and is a reliable and inspiring partner for growers.” Entries to The International Grower of the Year Awards 2020 will be open from March – July 2019.

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Selecta One acquires Challet-Hérault

On Jan. 18, 2019, shareholders of German plant breeder and propagator Selecta One acquired a further 40 per cent of the shares in aster and chrysanthemum specialists Challet-Hérault, making the French subsidiary now entirely owned by Selecta One. Challet-Hérault was started by René Hérault in 1892 in Cholet, France. After the second world war, Hérault partnered with Célestin Challet with the aim of creating, producing and promoting excellent potted chrysanthemums and a wide range of bedding plants.

Selecta One is a breeder, producer and marketer of vegetatively propagated ornamental plants. The breeding activities include bedding and balcony plants, poinsettias, perennials and cut flowers. With eleven production sites and distribution companies in Europe, Africa, Asia and America, the corporate group serves all relevant markets worldwide.

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Proven Winners wins Green Thumb Awards

The Direct Gardening Association (formerly called the Mailorder Gardening Association) presented Proven Winners ColorChoice Illuminati Tiny Tower Philadelphus and Peppy Le Pom Punica granatum, with 2019 Green Thumb Awards for best new plants in the plants, bulbs and seeds division. Selected for its narrow, columnar habit and unique four-sided “tower” effect, Illuminati Tiny Tower mock orange features hundreds of fragrant white flowers along dramatically upright branches, each nestled within dark green foliage.  Peppy Le Pom ornamental pomegranate is a dwarf shrub that blooms early and all summer long, peppered with bright orange blooms that give way to small, ornamental fruit.

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SnowEx hires sales manager

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Dramm partners with Vifra

Dramm announced it is partnering with Vifra, specialists in humidity management.

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Dramm announced it is partnering with Vifra, specialists in humidity management, to offer solutions to its North American customers. Vifra is a Rome, Italy-based company focusing on helping growers optimize their greenhouse humidity.

Pelham, Ont.-based Dramm will now offer Vifra’s high-pressure fog and dehumidification systems to North American growers to help them optimize their growing climates. Vifra’s systems work to increase or decrease humidity as conditions demand. By positioning dehumidification units throughout the greenhouse, a more uniform result is achieved.

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AAS winners announced

All-America Selections announced seven new AAS Winners at the American Seed Trade Association meeting in Orlando, Fla. Each of the Winners was trialed throughout North America by professional, independent, volunteer judges who grew them next to comparisons that are considered best-in-class.
 

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AIPH publishes International Vision Project

The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) has published a brand-new report which investigates the future of the global ornamental horticulture industry.

The International Vision Project (IVP) report, titled ‘Ornamental Horticulture, A Growing Industry?’, is the first of its kind and aims to identify future drivers and inhibitors influencing ornamental horticultural production up to 2030.

The report is available to download from the AIPH website: http://aiph.org/the-international-vision-project/