There's no doubt that British nurseries and garden centers, Hillier was the big winner of the 2026 edition of the AIPH International Grower of the Year (IGOTY) Awards. This company, based in the south of England, went home with three awards. Here's the story and a recap of everything that happened on this memorable afternoon on day 1 of IPM in Essen, Germany.
The IGOTY Awards 2026
If you walked into the IGOTY Awards ceremony at IPM Essen 2026, you could feel it straight away: a room packed with growers, breeders, traders, suppliers, and plenty of familiar faces from across the chain. People weren’t just there for a handshake and a photo. They were there to hear what’s working, what’s changing, and who’s setting the pace this year.
Hosted by Michael Perry (aka Mr. Plant Geek) and Sirekit Mol (commercial manager at Beekenkamp), the ceremony had that nice balance between polished and human. A bit of banter, a lot of applause, and a steady rhythm that kept attention on the growers and their teams. It was also clearly framed as an afternoon celebration rather than a late-night gala, which suited the trade fair tempo perfectly.
The Tone Setter: AIPH’s ‘Power of Plants’ Message
AIPH President Leonardo Capitanio opened with a straightforward message: ornamental horticulture is about far more than ‘beautiful products’. He put the spotlight on innovation, resilience, skilled people, and long-term value, while also acknowledging the daily pressures growers are facing: costs, shifting markets, sustainability expectations, and the constant push for transparency.
What landed well in the room was the recognition of reality: for many businesses, ‘keeping everything moving’ is already an achievement. This is exactly why IGOTY matters. It creates a pause to celebrate the growers who keep improving and who raise the bar for the rest of the sector. He also flagged AIPH’s Green City work and mentioned the upcoming AIPH Green City Standard, linking production excellence back to the bigger picture of healthier cities and climate resilience.
Sponsors With Substance: MPS, Chrysal, And Agraya
As headline sponsor, MPS Group had a strong on-stage presence, with Arthij van der Veer bringing both energy and a very practical angle: data, milestones, and how to steer through the ‘ocean’ of sustainability demands. His interactive ‘compass’ moment had people laughing, voting, and actually paying attention to hard numbers, from crop protection reductions in the Netherlands to shifts in active ingredient use in Africa. It worked because it wasn’t abstract. It was grounded in what growers are doing and how they’re proving it.
For the Cut Flowers and Bulbs category, Chrysal International was represented by Ben Worm, who didn’t sugarcoat the current climate. He mentioned volatility across trade and geopolitics, from tariffs to shifting market pressures, and pointed to innovation as the best way to stay flexible and relevant. He also gave credit to the next generation coming through leadership programs, saying their enthusiasm should give the industry confidence.
In the Sustainability category, Agraya’s Alison Jobic framed sustainability as a shared responsibility, but also a real opportunity. Her key point was traceability and trust, and she invited the room to keep the conversation going at the Agraya Summit in Bologna later in the year.
Oliver P. Kuhrt stepped in with a welcome on behalf of Messe Essen, describing IPM Essen as more than a trade fair: a marketplace of ideas where the industry meets, exchanges, and checks where the future is going. It matched the room’s vibe: international, busy, and clearly focused on what’s next.
Young IGOTY: Leadership, Not Just Talent
One of the most engaging parts of the program came before the trophies: a short on-stage chat with three Young IGOTY finalists, connected to the Jungle Talks Pro Manager Mastercourse.
Cauê Gomes Fogagnoli, Technical Director and Partner of Sítio Kolibri, Brazil, spoke about decision-making when sustainability, costs, quality, and daily operations collide. His key point: not every ‘best technical solution’ works in real life, and the future belongs to growers who can make honest choices and live with trade-offs.
Tatiana de German Ribon is the CEO of Colombian grower Flores La Conchita. She brought it back to storytelling and the supply chain. Once the product leaves the farm, the message can get diluted. Her takeaway was clear: growers need better ways to carry their story through the chain, even when there are multiple intermediaries.
Henil Vashi is the Horticultural Advisor at Robin Tacchi Plants, UK. He tackled the peat debate in a way that felt very ‘2026’: looking at materials, footprint, geopolitics, and the lack of a clear roadmap in some markets. He pointed out that even alternatives like coir have their own sustainability complications, especially when you factor in transport and global supply dependency.
When the award moment came, Henil Vashi was announced as the Young International Grower of the Year 2026. The applause felt warm and genuine, the kind that says ‘this one makes sense’. Read more about this winner in the article 'Henil Vashi From the UK Named AIPH Young International Grower of the Year 2026'.
Certificates Of Merit: Recognition Beyond the Trophies
Before the main category winners, the ceremony also included Certificates of Merit for Beijing Green Garden Group Co., Ltd. and Kisima Farm Ltd. It was a smart part of the program: acknowledging strong work that might not have taken a category, but still deserves industry attention.
The Category Winners and The Gold Rose Moment
Finished Plants And Trees
Winner: Hillier Nurseries Ltd. (United Kingdom)
Other finalists were Fitoralia (Spain) and Kwekerij Dirk Mermans (Belgium).
Hillier’s acceptance speech, delivered by Adam Dunnett, was all about team. He made it clear that investment matters, but people matter more. That landed, because everyone in the room knows what it takes to build a nursery that performs year after year.
Young Plants
Winner: Longchi Mudan Industrial Co., Ltd. (China)
Finalists included Chengdu Yimei Horticultural Technology Development Co., Ltd. and Jiuquan Lanxiang Horticultural Seedling Co., Ltd.
Longchi Mudan was particularly recognized for its focus on research, scale, and propagation systems for a consistent young plant supply.
Cut Flowers And Bulbs
Winner: Yunnan Holyflora Horticulture Co., Ltd. (China)
Finalists included Flores El Capiro S.A. (Colombia) and Herburg Roses Group (Netherlands).
The winner’s speech stood out because it connected production to community impact, highlighting employment opportunities for rural women. It gave the room something real to take home, beyond the technical story.
Sustainability
Winner: Hillier Nurseries Ltd. (United Kingdom)
Finalists included Flores El Capiro (Colombia), Herburg Roses Group (Netherlands), Kisima Farm (Kenya), and Yunnan Holyflora (China).
The Gold Rose Trophy
Then came the final moment: Hillier took the Gold Rose and the overall International Grower of the Year 2026 title, presented by Linda Hoogendoorn-Veelenturf, CEO of MPS Group. The Jury commented: “Hillier Nurseries Ltd demonstrates outstanding leadership through its long-term commitment to plant quality, innovation, and sustainable nursery practices. Their influence on horticultural excellence and the wider landscape industry makes them a truly deserving IGOTY winner.”
The closing words of Hillier's Adam Dunnett were personal and emotional, calling it a ‘remarkable moment’ in the company’s history and a lifelong ambition. In a trade-fair setting where everyone’s usually rushing to the next hall, it was a reminder that these awards still mean something.
Read the full story of Hillier's winning streak in the article 'Hillier Nurseries, UK, Wins AIPH International Grower of the Year 2026.'
A Room That Wanted To Know, And Wanted To Learn
What made this ceremony feel strong wasn’t just the winners list. It was the mood: the constant clapping, the phones coming out for the announcements, the way people leaned in during the Young IGOTY discussion, and the post-award photo chaos, where you could tell nobody wanted to leave early. There was that specific kind of trade-fair buzz: a mix of curiosity, respect, and quiet competitiveness. Followed by drinks and bites while networking with industry professionals.
And that’s probably the best summary of IGOTY at IPM Essen 2026: a tight, industry-facing moment where growers get the microphone, their teams get the credit, and the rest of us get a fresh set of benchmarks to work with next season.
