The economic weight of the ornemental industry concerns 18 274 direct jobs with a total net income of 1.4 M€ for production and 7 Md€ for distribution. However, the commercial influence zone remains globally focused on local or regional markets (Val'hor, 2017). The market is made up of citizens and landscape companies  and parks and gardens services. Shipment sales beyond 200 km total to less than 30% and exportation barely above 5% (68.5 M€). All the actors in production, services and specialized distribution are grouped together within the Val'hor interprofession. Alltogether, ornemental horticulture generates 150 000 direct and indirect jobs (FranceAgriMer).

In Europe, the demand for ornemental vegetables is important. France, however, does not produce enough to satisfy the interior demands and the commercial balance deficit has been continually increasing for at least 40 years. The French ornemental sector faces many challenges such as competitivity and the agroecological transition.

The ornemental industry group includes scientists from four INRAE Divisions (ACT, AES, BAP, SPE) as well as technical institute managers such as ASTREDHOR, and the Plantes & Cité Association. The group focuses on the ornemental sector by monitoring and analyzing the challenges facing the sector, in conjunction with the research being carried out at INRAE. The group has produced an analysis of the industry plan and taken part in a study on how th eindustry can adopt agro-ecological principles to consolidate their production approach or enhance their value on the market.

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