Flowers

Deadly bloom

10.02.12

ALTHOUGH the tulip originated in southeast Asia, the tiny European nation of Holland has transformed the flower into both a national symbol and a major foreign exchange-earner. Between March and May every year, when the tulips bloom, thousands of tourists rush to take in the sight of the rainbow colours that adorn the fields.

However, the breathtaking and attractive floral display does not reveal the environmentally degrading processes the tulip flower industry used to produce it -- mainly, the contamination of water and soil by pesticides, chemical fertilisers and manure.

The tulip flower industry is now under pressure to turn Green. Hans Muilerman of the Environment Federation of South Holland, which represents 80 groups, accuses tulip bulbgrowers of "continuous destruction of nature" in the past decade and of being "world champions in the use of pesticides. In the way this country implements regulations in this field, it's just a developing country."

Tulip growers use on an average 120 kg of pesticides per acre, which is six times higher than in other forms of intensive agriculture in the Netherlands. The use of such huge amounts of pesticides poses problems for the soil, the water and the workers. For years, trade unions have called for improvements in working conditions, after research showed workers in the flower industry handling pesticides are more prone to developing skin and nervous system disorders. The industry has acknowledged, belatedly, "an environment problem". Muilerman welcomes this recognition, says, "Only 5 per cent of the growers want to do something about it. The bulb sector is a bulwark of conservatism."

Source: Down To Earth