In 1991, the United States enacted the Andean Trade Primary Growing Locations of The Growing Process

Pesticides and fertilizers help rose farms grow high-value flowers,

Preference Act (ATPA) to combat the drug production and Roses in Ecuador Greenhouses but these chemicals are often detrimental to both the environment
the trafficking of coca in Andean countries such as • 62.1% of Ecuador’s roses are grown in • Grow roses in the soil instead of and humans. Both the pesticides and fertilizers used have negative
Ecuador. The goal of ATPA was to promote and strengthen the Pichincha Province, which is containers effects on aquatic ecosystems. For instance, pesticides such as
the legal industries within the four Andean countries by located in the north-central region • Plants irrigated using river water or iprodione and thiocyclam are known for their high toxicity to
offering trade benefits such as the elimination of tariffs on • 31.5% of Ecuador’s rose are grown in another local water source crustaceans, fish and amphibians. Fertilizers also can be toxic to
products like flowers. the Cotopaxi Province, which is located • Plants treated with pesticides and these species as the excess nutrients added to water bodies can
in the central region of the country fertilizers cause eutrophication, which causes oxygen depletion and even fish
The enactment of ATPA combined with Ecuadorian policy Post-Harvest Room kill.
reforms helped develop and strengthen numerous • Classify and bunch roses based on
Optimal Growing Conditions
traditional and nontraditional industries within the type, quality, length and width of Ecuador has the largest number of endangered species in the world,
country. One such business was Ecuador’s floriculture • High altitude (9,186 – 9,842 feet above many of which live in the Andes, and the toxicity of these chemicals
stem and color
industry. Flowers such as roses are best grown at high sea level) is alarming. If high enough levels of pesticides and other forms of
• Once classified, roses are moved to
altitudes where there is high light intensity and plenty of • Moderate climate with little wind chemical pollution enter into the rivers, streams and lakes
cold storage
water, making the Andean Region of Ecuador (La Sierra), a • Rich volcanic soil throughout the Andes, many of these species could go from
Processing and Packing
prime area for flower farms. • Abundant and direct sunlight endangered to extinct. A few of the species that could be affected
• Roses are wrapped, boxed and
• Long growing cycle (15 wk. vs. typical 8 include: the Silver Marsupial frog (Gastrotheca plumbea), Guenther’s
labeled to ensure quality is
wk. for roses grown at sea level) Marsupial frog (Gastrotheca guentheri) and the Andean catfish
maintained when transported
(Astroblepus ubidial).

In Ecuador, soil Ecuador is home to over

classification depends on 2,000 rivers and streams,
elevation, temperature, many of which originate in
rainfall and geographic the Andean Region of the
location. The soil in the country. This region’s
Andean region is primarily abundance of water makes
derived from volcanic ash, it an ideal location for
but is highly variable. The growing roses. Having a
Since 1991, Ecuador’s flower industry has grown to major soil tracts include: reliable and pure water
To minimize the undesirable effects some pesticides and fertilizers
become a major part of Ecuador’s economy at 9% of the source, helps the rose
• Andosols (red), have on both the water environment, humans and other species, the
total nonpetroleum export earnings. However, there are farms avoid risk, as roses
• Phaeozems (brown), following strategies should be developed and institutionalized by
many issues associated with the industry. The primary Water from the Andes flows require frequent irrigation.
• Leptosols (grey), Ecuadorian rose farms and the associated Ecuadorian rose industry:
problems include the pest susceptibility and intensive into one of the following This is especially important
• Cambisols (orange). • Integrated Pest Management (IPM) which uses pesticides only
nutrient management of high-value flowers such as roses. primary watersheds: for farms in Ecuador as
when practices have been implemented and they are warranted
In order to grow high quality export ready roses, large These soils are ideal for many regions experience
• Guyas, • Water Recycling System to capture and treat excess water
inputs of fertilizers and pesticides (primarily fungicides growing plants such as repeated water outages,
• Esmereldas, • Economic analysis for eco-market development to offset any costs
and insecticides) are used. While these chemicals help roses as they contain high particularly in the dry
• Napo, of sustainable production systems to benefit water quality
maintain the quality and quantity of roses grown, the levels of nutrients, organic season.
• Pastaza. • Development of FlorEcuador Certification levels to encourage rose
inputs are degrading water quality and harming aquatic matter, and fertility.
farms to implement more sustainable practices
species throughout the Andean Region of Ecuador.

Pesticides Fertilizers
1. European Commission. “Soil Atlas of Latin America and the Caribbean.”
A literature review and content analysis were performed • Rose growers use fungicides, insecticides, nematicides, and • Rose farms use nitrate- and phosphate-based fertilizers to EUROCLIMA Programme, 2015. PDF File.
using data collected from Parks Library at Iowa State herbicides to protect their plants from pests, such as botrytris maintain soil fertility and provide essential elements for high- 2. “Guenther’s Marsupial Frog.” Photograph. TEC. The Earth Charity, 12 Feb.
University, and various online searches. The following and mildew, aphids and nematodes, respectively quality rose production 2016. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.
materials were used: peer reviewed journals, non-peer 3. Meister Media Worldwide. Crop Protection Handbook. Willoughby: Meister
Chemical Use Effects Chemical Use Publishing, 2006. Print.
reviewed journals, online news articles, books, 4. Office of Global Analysis. “2009 Ecuador Fresh Flower Industry Situation.”
governmental websites, and general websites. Iprodione fungicide Toxic to crustaceans and fish, Calcium nitrate Ca and N are added to aid in the
USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, 9 June 2009. Web. 4 Apr. 2016.
carcinogen, suspected development of cell wall structure and 5. Sawers, Larry. “Nontraditional or New Traditional Exports: Ecuador’s Flower
Interviews of both academic and industry contacts were endocrine disrupter maintain healthy leaves Boom.” Latin American Research Review 40.3 (2005): 40-66. Web. 5 Oct.
conducted in order to gather information related to Dodemorph acetate fungicide Skin and eye irritant Potassium nitrate K and N are added to maintain healthy 2015.
leaves 6. “Silver Marsupial Frog.” Photograph. Widescreen Arkive. Widescreen
chemical usage, soil classification, pest management Propineb + cymoxanil fungicide Skin and eye irritant Initiative, n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.
strategies, etc. Experts interviewed included: Juan Carlos Ammonium nitrate N is added to maintain healthy leaves 7. Trebol Roses. Plantaciones El Trebol Cia Ltda, 2016. Web. 23 Mar. 2016.
Thiocyclam Insecticide Toxic to amphibians and fish,
Velez, Carolina Cordova Martinez, Christopher Currey, Lee Harmful if swallowed/inhaled Phosphate-based P is added to maintain healthy leaves 8. “Watersheds in Ecuador.” Image. CoLab Radio. Community Innovators Lab,
Burras and Gail Nonnecke. n.d. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.

I would like to thank the following individuals for their valuable assistance with this project: Gail Nonnecke (Project Advisor), Carolina Martinez, Lee Burras, Christopher Currey, Juan Carlos Velez, and Mike Weber. I would also like to thank the Global Resource Systems Program and the Honors Program.