About
The Irish Farmers’ Association
The Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) is Ireland’s largest farming organisation and represents a wide range of agricultural sectors, including horticulture and nursery stock production. Through its horticulture division and the Irish Hardy Nursery Stock Association (IHNSA), the IFA advocates for Irish growers of ornamental plants, trees, shrubs and nursery products at both national and European level. The organisation supports the sector through lobbying, sustainability initiatives, market development and cooperation with industry and government bodies, particularly around climate resilience and plant production policy. Ireland’s ornamental horticulture sector is known for high-quality nursery stock production, modern growing systems and strong links to landscape, forestry and urban greening projects.
Management
Ms Elaine FARRELL
members
Mr Val FARRELL
B & V Nurseries
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ENA – European Nurserystock Association
ENA, the European Nurserystock Association, represents nursery stock growers’ organisations across Europe.
Nurseries that propagate, grow and trade live plants are members of regional or national nursery organisations, which in turn are represented at European level through ENA.
Purpose of ENA
Through its professional member organisations, ENA represents the shared interests of growers and traders of hardy nursery stock products, including perennials, at international level.
ENA also serves as a platform for knowledge exchange between members.
Main activities include:
- Meetings and international cooperation
- Contacts with EU, national and international authorities
- Professional training
- Scientific development and research
- International documentation
- Publicity and exhibitions
History
In the early 1990s, nursery stock representatives from Germany and the Netherlands recognised the need for closer cooperation within the European nursery stock sector.
This led to the foundation of the European Nurserystock Association.
The founding members from Germany and the Netherlands were soon joined by France, Belgium and the United Kingdom.
Since 2013, ENA has been registered as a Belgian non-profit organisation.
Membership
ENA currently represents organisations from 21 countries:
Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
Together, ENA members represent more than 27,000 nurseries, cultivating plants on over 125,000 hectares and employing more than 200,000 workers.
Platform for Knowledge Exchange
ENA works on political and technical matters relevant to the nursery stock sector, both within and outside the European Union.
Topics addressed by ENA include:
- EU quality standards for nursery stock products
- Plant names lists
- SAN-code
- Packaging directives
- Plant diseases
- Environmental aspects
- VAT
- Plant Protection Products
- Market research
- Education
- EU plant health regulations
The ENA Structure
The General Assembly is the official governing body of ENA.
The President is the chief office-holder of ENA, supported by a Vice-President and Treasurer. Daily operations are managed by the ENA Secretary General.
ENA working groups include:
- EU Legislation Working Group
- Promotion Working Group
- International Plant Names Working Group
- Sustainability Working Group
- Attracting Young People Working Group
- Digitalisation Working Group
These working groups allow ENA to bring together expertise across a broad range of subjects.