During the first lockdown, many people took to making their own worlds beautiful by growing plants to help cope with the uncertainty. A vast body of scientific research shows us growing plants enhances lives, advances societies, and will sustain our planet, for this generation and the next.

The International Association of Horticultural Producers: AIPH is a non-profit organisation that has been pursuing key activities to support the global ornamental horticulture industry since 1948.

AIPH approves the most exceptional horticultural exhibitions

In addition to being the world’s champion for the power of plants, we have a mandate by international convention to be the international body responsible for approving the world’s most exceptional horticultural exhibitions.

AIPH approval has been the pre-requisite for a horticultural Expo to receive the recognition of the International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE) since 1960.

The most recent World Horticultural Expo was in Beijing, China, in 2019. It attracted over nine million visitors. Currently, we have approved seven expos between 2021 and 2027 in Europe and Asia.

Horticultural expos can vary from 25 to 500 hectares in size and last 5 to 6 months. Expos in Europe tend to attract 2 – 4 million visitors, whereas those in Asia tend to draw 5 – 10 million. The minimum number of international participants required is 10, but numbers at previous expos have been between 10 and over 100.

At our AIPH conferences, held twice a year internationally, cities seek AIPH approval to stage these spectacular events, often as part of a city development or regeneration programme. In September of this year, we hosted a virtual online conference, with delegates participating from every continent of the world made up of host cities, potential host cities, AIPH Members, horticultural industry representatives, major event service providers and the media.

AIPH Secretary General, Tim Briercliffe says: “The pandemic has created real challenges for organisers of major events like Expos but it has also highlighted the importance of green spaces and leisure experiences to improving quality of life. During 2020 Expo organisers have continued to prepare their events and new applications from cities around the world demonstrates the importance they attach to creating greener places to live and making better cities for the future.”

The following A1 World Horticultural Expos gave progress report presentations:

• Expo 2022 Floriade Amsterdam Almere (the Netherlands)
• Expo 2023 Doha Qatar
• World Horticultural Exhibition 2027 Yokohama (Japan)

And the following cities preparing B category International Horticultural Exhibitions followed:

• Expo 2021 Hatay (Turkey)
• 2021 Yangzhou International Horticultural Exhibition (China)
• Expo 2023 Kahramanmaras (Turkey)
• Suncheon International Garden Expo 2023 (South Korea)

As part of their application process for AIPH approval, the conference also received presentations from Chengdu (China), Izmir (Turkey) and Quang Binh (Vietnam), all seeking to host B category International Horticultural Exhibitions in the coming years. 

AIPH spreads awareness of the need for city greening

Green City is not just a faraway notion; there is a growing imperative to address climate change, air pollution, biodiversity, mental health, and social cohesion and the development of green cities will help balance these needs. 

Horticultural Expos are significant events for the national and international promotion of a host city. These events boost tourism, culture, business development, sustainability and green credentials, as well as the local and national horticulture industry. They especially encourage creative green space development and the importance of plants in our society and for our well-being. 

One of the pre-requisites for Horticultural Expo approval from AIPH stipulates the host city must demonstrate a genuine commitment to becoming an internationally recognised green city. 

AIPH Technical Advisor, Dr Audrey Gerber, says: “AIPH Expos attract millions of people. When they visit an Expo people see how plants play an essential role in many aspects of life. Home gardens contribute significantly to urban greening with much of the land in cities being privately owned or managed. We need individuals and communities to contribute to urban greening to make sure that our cities are liveable and resilient.”

Horticultural Expos create a lasting and beneficial legacy for the host 

In 2019, AIPH commissioned MI Associates, specialists in major events, to provide an event asset valuation of Category A1 and B Expos through a combination of research, economic modelling and strategic input. 

MI employed a direct expenditure methodology to calculate the projected expo economic impact. The metrics used were from the following data to create these projections: Attendance; Visitors; Visitor spend; Visitor nights, and Valuation. Also, MI identified and performed an evaluation of the non-economic and legacy benefits provided by these expos.

In the concluding report, Blooming Economies, the following conclusions focused on the Institutional Capacity Legacy. 

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AIPH Expo Support Programme

The AIPH has a support programme to help stage a World International Horticultural Expo and to bring together experts from different industries, often from outside the host city, to build together and deliver benefits for all before, during and after the Expo. Our Organiser’s Expo Guide is packed full of information. You can find many details, including our regulations and applications on the Exhibitions page on our website.

AIPH would be delighted to discuss the opportunity to host an expo, so please do speak to our AIPH Senior International Relations Manager treve.evans@aiph.org

[Source: AIPH] The AIPH Virtual Expo Conference on 30 September presents an excellent opportunity to learn more about hosting or being involved with an International Horticultural Expo and to network with expo organisers, city representatives interested in hosting an expo, urban developers, AIPH members, NGOs, international city and environmental organisations and suppliers to major events.

Billions are spent on developing these international spectacles that can have the ability to stimulate the development of entire cities and transform the international reputation of hosting regions. Each exhibition attracts many international participants and millions of visitors, lasts up to six months, with sites ranging from 25 to 500 hectares in size. Every Expo is carefully regulated, steered, and monitored by AIPH.

The period from 2021 until 2027 already includes AIPH approved expos in China, Turkey, Qatar, the Netherlands, South Korea and Japan with more to be approved in upcoming meetings.

These Expos will be submitting their progress reports on the 30 September. Rather than a physical international conference, AIPH is using a unique 3D system to host a virtual online meeting of delegates from around the world.

We are very grateful to PERA Event for their Headline Sponsorship of the conference. The company is also an AIPH preferred partner specialising in event management for International Horticultural Expos.

The registration price is just 55 GBP. Participants receive a link to create an avatar to enter this virtual environment. In this interactive form, they will be able to talk to other delegates starting from 8am (Central European Summer Time), and all from the safety of their device.

AIPH extends its thanks to AGES (Association of Global Event Suppliers), the UK’s Department for International Trade, ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability), IAEH (International Association of Event Hosts), ULI (Urban Land Institute) and media partners HOST CITY and FloraCulture International magazine.

AIPH Secretary General, Mr Tim Briercliffe, comments, “We are delighted to welcome our Expo organisers and all delegates to the AIPH Expo Conference. AIPH approved expos are beautiful events, which are enjoyed by millions of visitors wherever they are staged. Cities around the world are looking more than ever to further develop their green credentials and urban spaces, as well as driving the appreciation and benefits of plants and flowers in the built environment. In addition to seeing the interesting progress of our approved Expos, attendees will be able to network with delegates and learn more about how staging an International Horticultural Expos can bring great benefits to the host city, not just during the Expo itself, but for years to come.”

For more information on this event, visit the International Virtual Expo page.

[Source: AIPH] The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) has reviewed upcoming International Horticultural Exhibitions, that falls under its approval, due to the COVID-19 pandemic repercussions. Considering the time it takes to prepare a high-quality A1 International Horticultural Exhibition and the difficulties in continuing preparations during the pandemic, AIPH has recommended that Expo 2021 Doha Qatar be moved to a future date.

With a theme focused on greening the desert and improving the environment, the Government of the State of Qatar has therefore agreed to postpone the Horticultural Expo which will now open in October 2023. The Horticultural Expo will be hosted at Al Bidda Park and is expected to attract millions of visitors in the context of climate water and soil being indispensable and scarce resources, in addition to a list of objectives that were set in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.

Commenting on the change, AIPH Secretary General, Tim Briercliffe says, “Although Expo preparations are well underway in Doha, it is necessary to postpone the opening to allow more time for international participants to visit Doha, select their locations and prepare the construction and activities they need. AIPH believe that this date change will ensure that the Expo can be delivered to the highest possible standards. This will be the first AIPH Expo to take place in the Middle East and we are very excited about what it will achieve to stimulate city greening and sustainable development in a desert region.”

The Minister of Municipality and Environment for the State of Qatar, His Excellency Abdulla Bin Abdulaziz Al Subai welcomed the revised dates and commented: “ Throughout the COVID – 19 Pandemic the State of Qatar implemented strategic measures to address the economic and social impact of the pandemic, having said that and as we recognise the severe impact of the pandemic globally, we welcome the revised dates suggested by the AIPH for the Horticultural Expo. The State of Qatar is always committed to delivering world-class events, and this will not change for the A1 World Horticultural Exhibition happening for the first time in our region. Qatar looks forward to welcoming the global horticultural sector to share knowledge and experience in support of the Qatar National Vision 2030.

As Expo 2021 Doha Qatar has been recognised by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the intergovernmental organisation in charge of Expos, the change of dates requires approval from the BIE’s 170 Member States. The Secretary General of the BIE Dimitri S. Kerkentzes indicated: “I welcome the AIPH’s recommendation and Qatar’s resolution to move Horticultural Expo 2021 Doha Qatar to 2023, and I am confident that the change in dates will be approved by our Member States. For the host country and all participating countries, the new dates will allow the necessary time to adjust and adapt their plans to ensure the Middle East’s first Horticultural Expo is a resounding success in 2023.”

The Secretary General of the Expo in Qatar Mr Mohamad Ali AL Khoury welcomed the decision of the AIPH and reiterated on the importance of hosting this event for the first time in the region by saying: “The State of Qatar has always been the hub for World Class International events, we are committed to delivering a one of a kind experience to the global community and the citizens of Qatar and the region. We are continually working to ensure the readiness of Qatar to host the A1 Horticultural Expo, and we will continue with these efforts to deliver a premier one of a kind event.”

International Horticultural Expos foster cooperation and knowledge sharing between countries addressing crucial issues related to healthy lifestyles, green economies, sustainable living, education and innovation.

Hosted in Qatar for the first time in the region, the A1 Horticultural Expo will last for six months starting October 2023. It will include participants representing countries and International Organisations as well as Cities, Companies, Civil Society and NGOs.

For more information about International Horticultural Expos visit http://aiph.org/