History

We upgrade the roof of our building with a spray mist cooling system. Together with our weather station, we now control the building temperature during the hot summer months with a CO₂-neutral system that operates without energy consumption.

agrotropic also incorporates other plastic types such as PP and PE into its recycling concept and invests in corresponding compaction machines.

In this way, we now recycle cardboard, plastic and green waste, as well as all recyclable materials from the kitchen and the office.

agrotropic and Blume 3000 win the first Fairtrade Awards in the Brands/Manufacturing/Trade category for Bernhard's dedication to developing the Fairtrade standard for flowers, which began in the 1990s.

Pilot trials with cut flower transports in reefer containers via sea freight from Mombasa, Kenya.

We launch our workplace health management and Agro-Fit program. With exercise and music, our employees specifically loosen and strengthen muscles and joints twice a day.

To go a step beyond certifications, we initiate the pesticide monitoring program SOLISANI together with our business partners.

Due to the global shortage of raw materials and supply chain constraints, we expand our internal storage by adding galleries to create enough space for critical inventory items and ensure delivery reliability for our customers.

Together with CargoLite, we launch the system out of Quito as well.

In doing so, agrotropic saves additional tons of cardboard and CO₂, achieving lower freight costs in a challenging time.

In April, the photovoltaic system on the roof of our building is put into operation. The system has a capacity of approximately 234 kWp, which is sufficient to cover the estimated annual consumption of about 320,000 kWh. During the day, any surplus production is fed into the power grid. On overcast days and during the night, we source electricity from hydropower.

agrotropic becomes the exclusive Swiss representative of stabilized flowers from Ohchi Nursery in Japan under the Earth Matters brand.

Introduction of a digital information system for the production lines that provides employees with information on specifications, time constraints and production status. It also includes QR labels for product identification and flow control.

On Saturday 7th November Bernhard Bürgisser passes away.

After many years he lost his tough battle against his steadily progressing illness and was able to peacefully leave us.

With his heart in the right place, his humility, his visions, his ideals and his desire for fairness and justice, he greatly influenced many people around the world, both in his private and business environment.

For quite some time, we have been preparing for the moment in which Bernhard will no longer be among us. With Matthias Haudenschild, my sister Nora and me, along with countless long-time employees, Bernhard's spirit will continue to live on in agrotropic for many years.

Obituary

agrotropic, a prominent sponsor of Swiss Skills, featuring the Rose Walls.

During the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, when producers are unable to adequately pay their employees due to a partial lack of flower sales, Fairtrade steps in with direct payments. agrotropic takes a different approach, maintaining deliveries for specialty retailers and creating the Food Safety Grant. This initiative involves growing vegetables on fallow areas of farms for employees or cultivating vegetable seedlings, which are then distributed to the employees and their families. Our efforts are actively supported by Fleurop.

Our shop-in-shops receive a facelift with new aluminum merchandise racks designed by agrotropic and produced by Marthaler, along with agrotropic brand light cubes. 

We introduce a new internal transport system based on self-designed ATC carts, which efficiently accommodate CargoLite boxes in a space-saving manner. This enables a more efficient and environmentally friendly processing of flowers. Internally, it streamlines and accelerates the flow of goods, and reduces the physical strain on our employees.

We launch our feature stories in the magazine of the Florists Association. agrotropic sets trends, imparts expertise, and takes readers along on our journeys.

In collaboration with CargoLite, agrotropic starts using their packaging system for its shipments from Nairobi.

Initially, we use CL boxes with plastic frames, later transitioning to XL and then CL 38. The latter consists solely of cardboard, resulting in a total saving of over 1kg of cardboard and packaging materials per box.

We open our sixth shop-in-shop in Lucerne. 

agrotropic builds its own professional photo studio with the goal of showcasing our flowers in an even better light and providing our customers with high-quality visual materials.

Valentin Bürgisser hands over the management to Matthias Haudenschild and starts studying computer science. He remains with agrotropic on a part-time basis as the IT manager.

agrotropic moves into the new operating building in Oberhasli. agrotropic is now the most modern and sustainable flower processing facility in Switzerland.

For the first time, agrotropic markets baby vegetables from Kenya to Swiss supermarkets.

The snow peas and sugar snap peas come from small-scale farmers in the Aberdare region of Kenya, where they are cultivated in an integrated and virtually residue-free manner.

The planning of the new operating building in Oberhasli begins.

agrotropic enters a joint venture, 'Utee Estate Limited,' with the Black-Tulip Group. Lilies and chrysanthemums are produced on the farm in Kenya.

Bernhard Bürgisser hands over the management to his son, Valentin Bürgisser. Bernhard Bürgisser remains with the company as the Chairman of the Board.

In the flower exchanges of Mörschwil and Heimberg, two additional shop-in-shops are set up. Currently, agrotropic is directly represented in four flower exchanges.

E.C. Fischer AG and agrotropic decide on a strategic collaboration as part of the joint venture Spirig AG in Weinfelden.

A Shop-in-Shop at the Bern Flower Exchange is opened.

Agotrans merges with agrotropic for synergy reasons.

The first agrotropic 'Shop-in-Shop' is opened at the Zurich Flower Exchange.

agrotropic becomes the exclusive Swiss representative of stabilized roses from the Emihana Group in Ecuador, under the brand Rose Amor.

The company expands its assortment internationally. In 2015, in addition to Swiss customers, agrotropic supplies importers in seven other countries.

agrotropic declares cool chains during air transport of cut flowers as the focal point of the year for quality assurance. Approximately 150 reusable data loggers ('i-buttons') are acquired to continuously measure and record temperatures during transport from the producer to Rümlang. A significant portion of all air freight shipments is accompanied by i-buttons, allowing us to identify weaknesses in air transport and collaborate with airlines and freight forwarders to address them.

In collaboration with Fleurop-Interflora (Switzerland), agrotropic launches roses with the Max Havelaar quality label in Swiss florist stores. In the same year, agrotropic introduces Max Havelaar certified cut foliage and potted plants from its own farms in Sri Lanka.

agrotropic receives the biennial 'COOP-Natura Award' for the successful introduction of the most outstanding new product in COOP's 'Own Brand' category.

African Max Havelaar roses are launched in Switzerland through leading supermarkets. agrotropic supplies COOP with certified roses, having previously advised and supported rose growers in Kenya during the certification process through Max Havelaar Switzerland.

Quality control is expanded, and a testing room is set up where the durability and blossoming stages of flowers can be tested under standardized conditions (light, temperature, humidity).

Bernhard Bürgisser becomes a member of the 'Flower Label' working group, which over the following years develops the foundations for the criteria of Max Havelaar flowers.

agrotropic delivers ready-made flower bouquets for sale to supermarkets for the first time. The flower processing facility is expanded and equipped accordingly, including with the capability to print barcode labels. 

As the Chairman of the Board of Tropiflora Kenya, Bernhard Bürgisser applies for the company's membership with the Dutch certification company MPS. This triggers the decision-making process that leads to the opening of MPS for horticultural businesses outside the Netherlands. Tropiflora Kenya becomes a member of the first pilot project by MPS abroad and, upon successful completion of this project, attains MPS certification.

agrotropic becomes the first flower importer in Switzerland to offer ‘flowers in water’. After arriving from overseas, the flowers are unpacked, cut and delivered to customers standing in containers with water. agrotropic is the very first customer of Procona - environmentally friendly reusable containers for cut flowers.

agrotropic moves to Rümlang. Agotrans establishes a warehouse and freight operation with large cold storage facilities for flowers.

Agotrans becomes a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Agotrans is founded as a subsidiary of agrotropic. The existing shipping department of agrotropic is transformed into a professional freight forwarding company (customs declaration, plant protection handling, quota management).

Blume 3000 AG is founded by Bernhard Bürgisser. The company currently operates 13 florist stores in high-frequency locations with extended opening hours (train stations, airports) and employs 100 staff members. Early on, Blume 3000 started to incorporate flowers with the Max Havelaar quality label into its range. Today, 100% of the roses sold are Fairtrade certified.

Tropiflora Kenya is founded together with Norbert Krasensky, who led the company as Managing Director until 2014. Tropiflora Kenya produces cut flowers, mainly alstroemerias and spray carnations. Over the years, the production area expanded to 40 hectares before half of the company was transferred to the joint venture 'Utee Estate Limited' in 2014. The company employs 400 staff members. Tropiflora Kenya is MPS (ABC) certified, achieving a high score of 89 points. The farm is also MPS Social, MPS GAP, FLO Fairtrade, and BOPP certified.

Tropiflora Sri Lanka is founded in collaboration with partners from Sri Lanka. The company produces cut foliage on two farms and later expands to include potted plants. agrotropic owns 80% of Tropiflora Sri Lanka, which over the years has established a production area of 20 hectares and currently employs approximately 180 employees. Its products are distributed worldwide. Tropiflora Sri Lanka holds the following certifications: Global GAP and FLO Fairtrade.

agrotropic is founded by Bernhard Bürgisser in Zurich with the aim of providing a livelihood for his young family and financing his second degree (Forestry) at ETH Zurich (successfully completed in 1981 with a diploma in Forestry Engineering). He achieves this through part-time involvement in the company. agrotropic specialises in the import of flowers and cut foliage from overseas countries.