DAY TWO: Tuesday 15 September | Castello Svevo di Bari

HORTICULTURAL INDUSTRY CONFERENCE

Bringing together industry leaders to exchange knowledge and shape the future of ornamental horticulture.

The AIPH Horticultural Industry Conference brings together international growers and industry leaders to the Castello Svevo di Bari to explore the key issues shaping the future of ornamental horticulture.

Drawing on global perspectives, the programme will examine how the industry can drive greener cities, improve productivity, strengthen sustainability, and embrace new technologies.

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What to Expect

Hear directly from global industry leaders shaping the future of horticulture
Discover practical innovations driving smarter, more efficient production
Connect with growers, experts, and decision-makers from around the world
Explore how plants can power greener, healthier, and more resilient cities

Morning Programme

Afternoon Programme

Speakers

MORNING PROGRAMME

Growing and Greening

As cities around the world respond to climate pressures and changing public expectations, urban greenery is becoming essential infrastructure. This session explores how plants, trees, and green spaces contribute to healthier, more resilient, and more liveable cities, while creating new opportunities for horticulture to shape the urban environment.

Title	Speaker
Chairman Welcome
Welcome from AIPH President	Leonardo Capitanio, AIPH President
Preparing a new landscape in a climate-changed world: Connecting ornamental tree production to urban forestry	Professor Francesco Ferrini, Department of Agriculture, Food, Environmental and Forestry Sciences – University of Florence (Italy)
How Italy is leading the way with living green	Andreas Kipar, President of Green City Italy, Member of World Economic Forum Nature Positive Initiative Expert Taskforce, CEO of LAND
Mandera Municipality Greening Programme	Hon. Saleh Maalim Alio, CECM Lands, Housing and Urban Development, County Government of Mandera, Kenya
AIPH Green City Standard - From conception to reality	Dr Audrey Timm, Technical Initiatives Manager, AIPH

Growing Productivity

Nurseries are under increasing pressure to deliver higher quality plants with greater efficiency and consistency. This session examines practical systems, management approaches, and production innovations that can improve productivity, support workforce development, and strengthen long-term business performance.

Title	Speaker
From Experience Loops to Data Loops: Digitally Reconstructing the Floriculture Value Chain	Rick Yin, CEO of Bornsuntech Smart Agriculture Company, China
Can growing media be sustainable? Considering the challenges of sustainability, sourcing responsibly, and changing EU Policy	Alexander Sentinella, Director of Science, Growing Media Europe
LUNCH

AFTERNOON PROGRAMME

Growing Sustainably

Sustainability is now central to the future of ornamental horticulture, from responsible plant protection to verified environmental standards. This session will highlight current approaches to sustainable production, certification schemes, and industry initiatives that support resilient growing systems and build trust across the supply chain.

Title	Speaker
Chairman welcome
13 Years of Xylella fastidiosa in Europe: From emergency to coexistence	Dr. Donato Boscia, Emeritus Researcher, Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, Italian National Research Council
Governments and industry working together for plant health	Sarah Brunel, Implementation and Facilitation Unit Lead, IPPC Secretariat, FAO Dr. Audrey Timm, Technical Initiatives Manager, AIPH
Developing a sector-wide agreement for reducing the environmental impact of crop protection	Stefanie Miltenburg, Head of Public Affairs, Royal FloraHolland
Plant Protection Panel – Experts to discuss the future of PPPs and crop protection in ornamental horticulture	Jorge Possato, CEO, Veiling Holambra Clement Tulezi, CEO, Kenya Flower Council Flavio Lupato, Direttore Generale, Koppert Italia
Q&A and Closing Remarks

Announcing the winners of the AIPH World Green City Awards 2026

To conclude the Conference, we will celebrate the achievements of the 21 Finalists of the AIPH World Green City Awards 2026 and reveal the seven Category Winners, Youth Award Winner, Certificates of Merit recipients, and the overall Grand Winner.

Meet the 21 Finalists