Environmental cost of Kenya's cut flower export industry
Kenya has developed a comparative advantage in growing and processing cut flowers. Kenya is the largest supplier of cut flowers to the European Union & flower farming accounts for about 40% of all horticultural exports.
The Ecologist reports here that "Flower exports have become Kenya’s third major foreign exchange earner - after tea and tourism - bringing more than $100m into the Kenyan economy each year."
But there are growing concerns about the environmental impact. It is a good mini case study in the private and social costs and benefits from developing an export industry heavily reliant on water.
And naturally the success of the Kenyan cut flower industry invites competitive challenges from countries such as Ethiopia
Find out more about the changing pattern and complexity of Kenyan exports by visiting the Observatory of Economic Complexity.
Cut flower exports are a major component of Kenyan GDP – but come at a toxic cost. #Naivasha #Kenya @FAOAfrica pic.twitter.com/BIsp5eJPNu
— DW Environment (@dw_environment) February 6, 2018

Congrats Kenya flower industry, which is seeing bigger exports of #ValentinesDay2018 flowers to Europe than 2017 -- with the the EU in mid-winter but demanding romantic blooms today. https://t.co/Xpht7uEWci pic.twitter.com/k8s9SoLAw1
— James Hall (@hallaboutafrica) February 14, 2018
Your Kenyan roses almost didn't arrive today. A fascinating story about global trade logistics, African trade flows, global competitiveness, Valentines Day and flowers, brought to you by @MatinaStevis https://t.co/3WlRS2azFn #kenya #valentinesday #globaltrade
— CIPE Africa (@CIPEAfrica) February 14, 2018
For extra interest ... which countries impose the highest tariffs on imported roses? Trade News Analysis (as so often) has the answer!
RANKING: 25 countries slapping the highest tariffs on #roses 🌹 from Colombia ➡️ https://t.co/3cWfzBcaWh pic.twitter.com/luKOZuzPZN
— Trade News Analysis (@TradeNewsCentre) February 14, 2018
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