Oserian named best grower of cut flowers at global awards
Kenya's grower and exporter of cut flowers, Oserian Development Company Limited, has won a presitigious award at this year’s International Grower of the Year awards emerging as the only African company to be feted in the ceremony.
Dubbed the Oscars for plants, The International Grower of the Year Awards, an annual fete organized by the International Association of Horticultural Producers, and now in its tenth year, seeks to celebrate excellence and best practices in flower production.
Lifting the highest accolade in the cut flower category is an endorsement of Oserian’s huge investment in varieties that have increasingly received the thumbs up from customers around the world in what is an increasingly dynamic market with an insatiable appetite for new niche varieties.
To meet this demand Oserian has developed a diverse portfolio across the 200 hectares it dedicates to cut flower production. With over 100 hectares, rose production is still dominant but the numerous supporting crops such as Statice, Spray Carnations, Gypsophila, Sunflowers, Eucalyptus, and a wide range of green fillers enable Oserian to create a vast assortment of bouquets.
Key to their strategy is identifying roses that benefit from their vast 50 hectares of geothermally heated greenhouses. Inside these impressive structures is home to their various Collections – their wide range of Garden type roses, their Lady Collection, the Park Collection and one of type roses such as the striking Cappuccino.
To maintain the highest standards in production, the Company has adopted a ‘champions by nature’ approach to flower growing. The Company utilizes the integrated pest management (IPM) system, hydroponics to reduce water and fertilizer consumption and has the world’s largest geothermal heating project for maintaining temperature in its greenhouses and for injecting vast amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) needed to stimulate healthy, strong plant growth.
“We are proud that our investment in innovation and responsible flower growing mechanisms continue to be recognized on the global stage. In an increasingly competitive and dynamic market our cut flowers have excited markets and positioned us as frontrunners in sustainable flower production” said Mary Kinyua the Director of HR & Administration at Oserian.
This year’s competition which drew participants from across the world saw Oserian take pride of place alongside producers in other categoriess from China, Belgium and Poland.
“The 2019 IGOTY Awards provide an opportunity to put a spotlight on the best in our industry, showing the world the quality businesses that exist,” Bernard Oosterom, President of AIPH said.
Ms. Kinyua says the win gives the Company fresh impetus to respond to diverse market needs while growing its portfolio. “As demand for cut flowers burgeons and customer preferences change, we continue to position our business to respond to these dynamics while remaining true to our philosophy of having sustainable flowers that are ethically grown.”
Last year Oserian won three awards in the Federation of Kenya Employers Awards for innovation and productivity, responsible business conduct and inclusivity and diversity in what points to the Company’s commitment to people and planet through sustainable flower growing practices, investment in staff welfare and ethical production of world class flowers.
‘We note that we did not lift the Award for Sustainability at this year’s AIPH Awards and we are really focused upon sustainable flower production, so we will be doubling our efforts this year as we aim to achieve Carbon neutrality and see if this gets us onto the podium at next year’s Awards’ explains Ms Kinyua.
