12 years ago Herplant BVBA started a breeding program to develop resistant varieties against the dreaded boxwood blight. These 4 new varieties can be discovered at the Grootgroenplus trade fair from October 2nd to 4th 2019.

The Morus rotundiloba Mojo Berry (Matsunaga PBR) won the gold medal in the ‘Varieties’ category at the FLORALL awards. It was one of the highlights of a trade show already bathing in a noticeably positive ambience.

As of 1 July, Filip Fontaine will become the general director of VLAM, Flanders’ Agricultural Marketing Board. Fontaine succeeds Frans De Wachter who will retire on 1 July 2019 after a long career with VLAM.

On 12 March, the FLORALL trade fair was held in Waregem. There is also a competition for novelties connected to the trade fair. The Hydrangea ‘Runaway Bride’ by tree nursery Willy De Nolf from Waregem won the gold medal in the ‘varieties’ category. In the ‘concepts’ category, the ‘Berroo Pure’ by Dataflor from Zonnebeke won with a completely ecological strawberry plant product.

Climate marches, taxes on packaging and sharp growth in the sales of organic products. The rise of ecological awareness has not gone unnoticed by the Belgian horticultural company Dataflor. With its new range of ecological strawberry plants, from now on garden centres can also offer their customers a sustainable alternative.

Twenty-eight suppliers of Belgian potatoes, fruit, vegetables and fruit trees welcome you to the VLAM booths during Fruit Logistica in Berlin. Together with the federations and auction houses, they will present a very wide range of top-quality products to the fair’s visitors. This year, the focus is on the revamped sustainability project ‘Responsibly Fresh’, that is being revealed on Thursday, 7 February. Meet the Belgian exhibitors at the VLAM booths in hall 6.2, booths B-03 to B-07.

This year, the Association of International Horticultural Producers (AIPH) organised the ‘Grower of the Year’ competition to crown horticultural companies at international level for the tenth time. Belgian chrysanthemum breeder Gediflora was nominated and on 22 January was awarded the Golden Rose in the main category and in the category of ‘young plants’.

No fewer than 38 Flemish horticultural companies will take part in the group stand of VLAM, and thus we can beat our record from past year. Together, they represent the broad range of Belgian ornamental products, from the typically Flemish plants such as azaleas, rhododendrons, flowering indoor plants, Flemish bay and chrysanthemum to shrubs, young and bedding plants and tree nursery products.

Belgium will be the partner country of the world's leading fair for horticulture IPM ESSEN in 2019. As is well-known, the partnership was put under the motto 'Rooted in Craftsmanship Together'. The words have now been followed by deeds within the framework of a tree planting event. Since November 12, a summer linden has decorated the Messe Essen site. The tree has found its place in front of the new East Fair Building on the side towards Norbertstraße.

Belgium is once again partner country België is of IPM Essen. The expertise which connects both partner countries with each other will be emphasised under the motto "Rooted in Craftsmanship together".

Horticultural fans are once again being treated to interesting newcomers with extra added value. From amongst sixteen novelties, the jury of the Florall Awards selected the long-flowering Daphne ‘Perfume Princess’ with its high value for the consumer and the hardy Lagerstroemia indica ‘Berry Dazzle’ as the winners. In the Concepts category, Belgicactus’ new total concept for succulents, ‘Fabulous Fat Friends’, was awarded 2nd prize.

An attractively trained kiwi vine that is guaranteed to produce fruit; a Chaenomeles with spectacular early blooms; and a compact, low-growing bamboo that is not invasive. These are the prizewinners that were chosen by a five-strong expert jury during Florall at Waregem Expo.