GORD becomes member of the International Association of Horticultural Producers
The Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (GORD) has become an affiliate member of the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH), allowing it to collaborate with a global network dedicated to sustainable horticulture practices. The announcement of GORD's affiliation with AIPH was made during the General Meeting at the AIPH Spring Meeting held at the Expo 2023 Doha Qatar Congress Centre on March 6. During the event, senior members of GORD presented the organization's key activities and innovations to an audience of professionals representing AIPH’s member organizations.
GORD's affiliation aligns with its mission to promote sustainability. AIPH focuses on the importance of plants in urban environments and achieving sustainable development through horticulture. To this end, GORD intends to leverage this platform to raise awareness about its green solutions applicable to the agriculture and horticulture sectors, including the “Encyclopedia of Native and Non-Native Plants in Eastern Arabia" that promotes ecologically sustainable landscaping practices.
As AIPH strives for its horticultural expositions to be recognized as leading examples of sustainability, GORD's expertise and innovations can significantly contribute to this goal. The Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) EcoLeaf certification program, for instance, offers a comprehensive framework for enhancing the environmental performance of mega-events like expos and festivals. GSAS EcoLeaf integrates sustainability principles throughout the event lifecycle, from planning and design to construction, operation and dismantling. This approach aims to reduce the carbon footprint of temporary facilities while protecting the environment and user well-being.
Furthermore, the Green Events Tool, developed by GORD, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), provides another valuable resource for sustainable event management. This web-based platform targets decarbonization and sustainable development by focusing on environmental impacts of conferences, meetings, exhibitions, trade fairs, sporting events. etc. From transportation and lodging to paper trails, catering and energy use, the GET provides an all-encompassing approach that identifies ways to host eco-friendly events with reduced carbon footprint and other impacts.
Commenting on GORD’s recent affiliation with AIPH, Dr. Yousef Alhorr, Founding Chairman of GORD, said, “We are thrilled to join forces with AIPH and its vast network. Together, we can significantly advance the role of plants in urban environments for a more sustainable future through innovative horticulture practices. We're confident that by combining GORD's diverse suite of solutions with AIPH's broad events base, we can create a lasting positive impact on both the horticulture sector and the sustainability of future expos."
Welcoming new member organizations, AIPH President Leonardo Capitanio said, “It is great to be part of a growing association. As more and more organizations join us, we become even stronger in promoting and supporting this important industry on the world stage.”[1]
GORD’s membership of AIPH follows its crucial role at the ongoing Expo 2023 Doha as the sustainability partner of the event where GORD’s scope of work covers various aspects from planning, reporting and implementation to operations, dismantlement and post-event legacy. GORD's experience at Expo 2023 Doha as the sustainability partner demonstrates its ability to guide future expos towards sustainable practices. As is the case with Expo 2023 Doha, GORD’s sustainability experts can potentially provide training and capacity building for stakeholders of future expos to ensure sustainability best practices are implemented throughout the event lifecycle.
