January 22, 2026
In a significant milestone for Kenya’s floriculture sector, the Sustainable Global Forum announced that the Kenya Flower Council’s Flowers and Ornamentals Sustainability Standard (F.O.S.S.) has secured recognition from the Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI). The announcement signals an important vote of confidence for buyers seeking verifiable social, environmental, and good agricultural practices in flower sourcing.
The SSCI recognition places F.O.S.S. under the Primary Production social compliance scope, giving international buyers an additional, trusted benchmark as they assess supply chain risk and sustainability credentials. This confirmation follows a rigorous benchmarking process, underscoring F.O.S.S.’s alignment with globally recognized sustainability criteria and governance standards.
Kenya stands as one of the world’s leading exporters of cut flowers, contributing substantially to the country’s economy. The sector, valued at about USD 835 million in the previous year, is dominated by a broad network of growers and exporters, accounting for roughly 80% of the industry. In this climate, F.O.S.S. serves as a unifying framework that guides ethical labor practices, environmental stewardship, and responsible agricultural methods across participating farms.
Didier Bergeret, Director of Sustainability at the CGF, highlighted the milestone, noting that SSCI recognition strengthens the reliability of information that buyers rely on for responsible sourcing. He emphasized that the benchmarking process enhances visibility into social compliance across one of the world’s most important flower-exporting regions, benefiting both workers and downstream buyers.
Clement Tulezi, CEO of the Kenya Flower Council, expressed pride in the achievement, describing it as a reflection of the sector’s unwavering commitment to high standards. Tulezi thanked member farms for their continued dedication to safe, inclusive workplaces and ethical practices. He noted that the recognition would help sustain Kenya’s competitive edge in international markets by reinforcing trust in the country’s floriculture supply chain.
F.O.S.S. has built a broad footprint, currently covering more than 160,000 workers across Kenya’s floriculture farms. The standard’s scope encompasses social aspects, environmental stewardship, and sound agricultural practices, positioning Kenya as a credible source of responsibly grown flowers. With SSCI recognition now in place, buyers gain an additional layer of assurance when making due diligence and independent sustainability evaluations.
The SSCI’s track record includes recognizing nine schemes to date, with several others undergoing benchmarking. This ecosystem supports transparent reporting and empowers buyers with credible information while preserving a diverse landscape of compliance options.
For Kenya’s floriculture industry, the SSCI recognition reinforces a broader narrative: Kenya can compete on quality, ethics, and sustainability in a market where buyers increasingly demand verifiable footprints. As global demand for responsibly produced flowers continues to rise, F.O.S.S. and its SSCI endorsement position Kenya to maintain leadership in a sector that remains a cornerstone of the national economy.