A University of Queensland (UQ) initiative has bought together growers, exporters, importers, auction markets and florists in Japan to discuss the marketing of Australian flowers into the country.
Led by UQ Centre for Native Floriculture (CNF) researcher, Lilly Lim-Camacho, the supply chain members were invited to air their concerns, share their experiences and discuss the successes and challenges each encountered when producing and delivering flowers to the discerning Japanese market.
The project has been jointly funded by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation's Global Competitiveness Program and industry members.
According to Ms Lim-Camacho, this meeting is the first time that the whole supply chain, from grower in Australia to florist in Japan, has been represented in such a forum.
"The group included a grower from Victoria, a foliage supplier from Queensland, an Australian exporter, and Japanese importers, auction houses and florists," she said.
"In addition, we also had representatives from the Australian Flower Export Council and the Queensland Government Trade Office in Toyko."
Australian native flowers are hot property in Japan, providing an increasing percentage of the country's thriving floral industry.
Beautiful native species such as the kangaroo paw, wax flower, rice flower and umbrella fern all now appear in Japanese homes regularly as a result of the burgeoning market.
"Unlike Australians who for the majority use flowers to celebrate special occasions, the Japanese are huge consumers of floral products," she said.
"They spend a significant amount of time and money each week sourcing bouquets which feature all around their homes including entrance halls, dining rooms and even the kitchen."
The meet the market forum ended on a high note, having developed a viable promotional strategy for Australian products in the Japanese marketplace. For Ms Lim-Camacho it is the culmination of three years spent researching Australian flowers in Japan.
The Centre for Native Floriculture (CNF) based at UQ's Gatton Campus continues to work researching and commercialising native species to continue to meet the demands of not only the Japanese market but also the world market, taking Australian native floriculture to the world.
Media inquiries: Susanne Schick - UQ Gatton Campus (5460 1229, 0409 265 587).
