Dublin, Ireland
November 16, 2009
The 22nd National Nursery Stock Conference took place recently at Mount Juliet, County Kilkenny. Speaking at the event, Teagasc horticulture specialist Jim Kelleher said: “This year has been a tough trading year for the nursery stock industry with many nurseries facing closure. The coming years will see nurseries needing to exploit income earning opportunities by developing sustainable technologies and practices to reduce their cost base.”
In 2008, the amenity sector in Ireland was estimated to be worth €67.4 million (DAFF) to the economy. The value of the sector is estimated to drop to €43 million in 2009, based on feedback from the sector. Currently, there are 220 commercial nurseries in Ireland which together with garden centres and the landscaping sector, employ around 3,500 people across the country. Uncertainty in relation to consumers’ discretionary spending has impacted on sales in the sector.
The Nursery Stock Conference, organised by Teagasc, in association with Bord Bia, brought together a panel of speakers and industry analysts from Holland, England and Ireland to provide valuable assistance to nursery owners in formulating decisions on how sustainable technologies and practices can reduce their cost base while increasing sales. ‘Increasing profits by harnessing sustainable technologies’ was the theme for the conference.
Delegates at the conference heard about developing ‘green credentials’ for their businesses through the Climate Friendly Nurseries Project launched at the conference. They also heard about developing sustainable technologies to keep costs down. It is hoped that increased sales will result from these practices, due to customers supporting enterprises with sound green credentials.
New plant introductions, biological control and biosecurity were also discussed while the conference concluded with a forum on Buy Irish, Shop local, which was facilitated by Bord Bia.
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