Growing Media Europe celebrates ten years at the heart of European horticulture
Members, value-chain partners and EU representatives gathered at Meise Botanic Garden to mark the association's 10th anniversary.
Most people never think about what their plants grow in. Yet from the tomatoes on our plates to the trees lining our streets, growing media are where professional horticulture begins. For the past ten years, Growing Media Europe (GME) has made sure this sector has a voice at European level.
On 1 October 2026, GME celebrated its 10th anniversary at Meise Botanic Garden, in both the Tropical Greenhouse and the historic castle. The evening brought together GME members, partners from across the value chain and representatives of the European institutions, gathering the wider growing media and horticultural sector in Brussels for the first time to celebrate its shared achievements and look ahead.
Our products may not always be visible to consumers, but they are essential to helping plants grow, supporting professional horticulture, and contributing to greener and more sustainable societies. Rafael Bolinches, President of Growing Media Europe |
Looking back at the past decade, Director General Cecilia Praet (Luetgebrune), who has led the association since its creation, recalled some of GME's many “first-time experiences”: from being the association's only employee to building a team and an organisation from scratch, and even carrying half a truckload of potted plants through the security checks of the European Parliament.
GME will continue to work with policymakers and stakeholders to ensure that growing media are recognised as essential to the competitiveness and sustainability of European horticulture.
We warmly thanks our members, partners, past and present Presidents, Board Members and Secretariat team, as well as the companies that made the evening possible: Klasmann-Deilmann, Pindstrup, Kekkilä-BVB, Projar International, Nurme Turvas and Jiffy Group.
About Growing Media Europe
Growing Media Europe AISBL is an international non-profit organisation representing the producers of growing media and soil improvers at European level. Coordinating its work with member companies and associations across Europe, GME provides scientific information and technical expertise on the use of growing media products, and acts as a focal point for policymakers and stakeholders inside and outside the European institutions.
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