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The Future of Horticulture Part 2 - Propagation

John Mason Predicts The Future of Horticulture Part 2
The Future for Propagation

If you think the nursery industry has problems you’re not wrong, but 48 years in this industry has taught me that having problems is normal. Everything changes – the way we propagate, what we propagate, how we develop our businesses, how we find our way into our industry, and so much more. The one thing that is different today though is that change is much, much faster, and for many the speed of change is very unsettling, and can be particularly disruptive. The internet and other technologies, bringing about better access to information, has not only changed how we work, but is continuing to change how we work.
Realistically you only have two options into the future. Either embrace change, adapt and use it to your advantage; or reject change, be overwhelmed and fail.

The nursery industry, and horticulture more widely, will continue to prosper, and will be more significant than ever. Mankind will never stop needing to propagate and grow plants. Plants are essential to supply us with food, shelter, medicines, and most of our daily needs. They are the most important tool we have for managing environmental issues such as land degradation and climate change. The laws of economics are very clear that whenever there is demand, supply will arise to fill that demand.

The thing which is uncertain is how many of the existing industry players (individuals and organisations), will adapt and fulfil future needs, and how many will be replaced by new players.

Currently, too many are trying to hold onto redundant ways of operating, rather than inventing new, more relevant solutions.

I hear colleagues express concern that young people are not entering horticulture because it doesn't pay well; then I encounter entrepreneurial enthusiastic young people who have found sometimes obscure pathways into very well paid horticultural careers. I hear complaints that college enrolments are dropping, but I'm all too aware of several private colleges, outside of the mainstream, who have double figure annual growth in horticultural enrolments.

Many are worried that garden centres are in decline because chains like Amazon will destroy retailing, and that the internet has all but destroyed horticultural publishing. All of these things no doubt impact us, but there are more plants and garden products selling today than ever, and there are certainly more gardening publications on our news-stands than there were when my career began.

I hear colleagues complain about the lack of government funding. Many have an expectation that the solution to issues plaguing the industry is more funding from government; but in an age where social welfare, security, health and defence costs are constantly expanding, it isn't realistic to expect government handouts to solve problems. There are other solutions. Some people are finding them and making a lot of money doing so. Others continue to pine for a return to the past.

Horticulture is big business; the only question is whether you are going to lead the changes to come, or be destroyed by them.

If we want our industry to function better, we need to work together. Our industry and professional bodies need to be more harmonious; rather than competing among themselves. There is no one peak body. Above all though, future success depends upon the individuals who embrace change and find ways to use change to their benefit.

In conclusion; a very good point was made in a recent lecture I attended by the head of the New York city parks department. He suggested that the way to convince the public and the politicians to support parks is simple. You appeal to the things that are important to them, instead of the things that are important to the parks department.

If we want to grow our industry, and sell it to the public and the politicians, we need to show them why plants and nurseries are important to them, and stop focusing on issues that are important to us.

John Mason
Principal
ACS Distance Education


John and his team of horticultural experts have written and developed a wide range of courses for ACS Distance Education. If you would like to learn more about horticulture as a step to a new career, please visit our horticultural courses page

[28/03/2024 23:31:44]

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