The AIPH International Grower of the Year Awards 2020 Opens for Entries

The International Grower of the Year (IGOTY) Awards 2020, organised by the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) and sponsored by Royal FloraHolland, is now open for entries. The award ceremony will be held in January 2020 at IPM Essen in Germany, to take place alongside the industry’s largest international trade fair.

AIPH welcomes entries from around the world. The IGOTY Awards celebrate best practice and recognise the ‘best of the best’ in ornamentals production in five categories; finished plants and trees, young plants, cut flowers and bulbs, sustainability and inspiring business. Within each category bronze, silver and gold awards can be won. From among these categories, only one winner will be crowned the ‘AIPH International Grower of the Year 2020’ and receive the ‘Gold Rose’ – the industry’s most coveted prize.

On 22nd January 2019, Gediflora, a Belgian chrysanthemum breeder and grower, was named International Grower of the Year 2019. On winning the ‘’Gold Rose’ award, Elien Pieters of Gediflora said: “Winning the award felt like a statement, a recognition that we are doing things in a good way. We are a healthy growing company and highly focused on quality, service and innovation. Winning IGOTY is like the sector speaking out to say that we are doing a really good job. We feel like we’ve won the world cup. The award has generated a very positive vibe within the company, everyone is really proud and it’s a really great boost.”

Candidates can enter the IGOTY Awards 2020 online at aiph.org/international-grower-of-the-year-awards . Entry closes on Friday 6th September 2019. Judging will then take place by a panel of industry experts who will access the entrants on five key criteria; economic performance, innovation, market insight, sustainability and human resources policy. From the entries a shortlist will be selected.

All winners will be announced at the IGOTY Awards ceremony in January at the IPM Fairground, IPM Essen, which provides the opportunity for the industry to celebrate outstanding players and enjoy an evening of high-class dining and entertainment.

To find out more about the IGOTY Awards watch the AIPH International Grower of the Year Awards 2019 video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU1VLv0dvAM&t=6s . An animation video explaining the entry process will be available soon. For queries on entering the awards please contact: elena.terekhova@aiph.org.

International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH)

Since 1948, AIPH has united horticultural producers in an international community that thrives to this day. Much has changed in that time. Technologies advanced, cities rose from the ground, and we have become more connected than ever. As a result, our essential bond with nature has been weakened. AIPH strives to reignite and uphold an appreciation of plants that we believe is a basic human instinct. We support the work of grower associations globally and together we champion a prosperous industry, growing plants that enhance lives, advance societies and sustain our planet, for this generation and the next.

IGOTY Awards

Brought to you by AIPH in partnership with Founding Partner, FloraCulture International (FCI), the IGOTY awards have been championing outstanding achievement in the sector since 2010. The IGOTY Awards recognise best practice in horticultural production by the top ornamental production nurseries from around the globe, celebrating the expertise and energy they give to horticulture. In 2019 ornamentals growers, from Belgium, China, Denmark, Kenya, the Netherlands and Poland reached the finals, with Gediflora – Belgium winning AIPH IGOTY 2019.

For more information including how to enter, past winners and a video of the IGOTY Awards 2019 visit www.aiph.org/groweroftheyear