Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Agrifood Chain Management

Sustainable Floricultural Production NRW

 

Stakeholders’ Understandings of Sustainability in Horticulture - Ornamental Potted Plant Production in North Rhine-Westphalia

Funded at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences "Sustainable Floricultural Production NRW"

EIP-Agri-Project: Sustainable Floricultural Production NRW

Link: https://www.hochschule-rhein-waal.de/de/seite/eip-projekt-nachhaltiger-topfpflanzenanbeu-nrw

Project Brief:

In the German horticultural market North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is in leading position. Located in the conflict between the region’s leading position in the sector and the increasing demand for more sustainable production patterns a group of 13 horticultural entrepreneurs in NRW founded an association in 2017.  The group focuses on improving the participants’ corporate sustainability performance in order to enhance their resilience towards changing market requirements and to prepare for an increase in stakeholder pressure in the future.

However current research on corporate sustainability identified a persisting gap between rising business’ sustainability claims and the worsening state of the environment and the global social circumstances. Businesses are increasingly committed to sustainable management and corporate sustainability strategies but at the same an increasing degradation of the environment can be observed. In this context the present study evaluates the status quo of corporate sustainability implementation in ornamental potted plant production in NRW. It specifically focuses on the understandings of sustainability of value chain stakeholders. The study builds on in-depth interviews with stakeholders of the horticulture sector (producers, retailers, advisory services, public authorities, suppliers, politicians, consumers, etc.) and applies Q methodology to study the subjectivity of participants.

Team: Prof. Dr. Dagmar Mithöfer, Dirtje Derksen

Funding: Europäischer Landwirtschaftsfonds für Entwicklung des ländlichen Raums & Ministerium für Umwelt, Landwirtschaft, Natur- und Verbraucherschutz des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen (EIP-Agri)

 

  
Photo: Das Grüne Medienhaus GMH
  
Photo: Das Grüne Medienhaus GMH