MPS, EHPEA strengthen their partnership

Sustainability has become a cornerstone of responsible floriculture in the past decade, with increasing demands throughout the supply chain. As developers and owners of certification standards, the Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) and MPS have played an active role in shaping the sustainability agenda through their long-standing involvement in the Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI).

© EHPEA

Building on years of collaboration in Ethiopia, EHPEA and MPS have jointly supported the development of sustainable practices among Ethiopian flower growers—ensuring their continued competitiveness in the global marketplace.

© EHPEA

This commitment was taken a step further during HortiFlora 2025, where EHPEA and MPS signed a new agreement to deepen their partnership through formal cooperation on environmental certification. The integration of MPS-ABC certification into the EHPEA Code of Conduct for Silver and Gold members means that EHPEA-certified growers will now directly meet the environmental basket requirements of FSI.

A total of 50 EHPEA member farms, comprising 39 Silver and 11 Gold members, will benefit from this strengthened alignment. These growers will now meet all three FSI baskets (Good Agricultural Practices, Social, and Environmental) through the EHPEA Code of Conduct, demonstrating their leadership in sustainable horticulture.

© EHPEA

"This collaboration not only simplifies the certification pathway for Ethiopian growers, but also raises the profile of Ethiopia as a country committed to sustainable horticulture," said Mr. Tewodros Zewdie, Executive Director of EHPEA.

"We are proud to take this next step with EHPEA and continue to support growers in meeting evolving market demands," added Arthij van der Veer, Area Manager Africa of MPS.