Our Company
About us
Mission
Vision
Company values
- Service
- Loyalty
- Respect
- Responsibility
- Solidarity
Corporate behaviors
We are passionate about what we do
We make things happen
We build lasting, trusting relationships
We are flexible and open-minded
We speak with facts and data
We motivate creativity
Our history
1962
SB Talee was born as a carnation breeder and propagator company in Italy
A company originally founded by Forese Salviati & Palle Brunn in Tuscany, Italy dedicated to the research and development of new carnation and spray carnation varieties and to the production and distribution of mother plants and cuttings of varieties in many countries around the world.
1988
SB Talee de Colombia was born
A subsidiary of SB Talee Italia, in a farm located 50 km east of the capital city of Bogota, to produce and sell carnation cuttings; in a few years the company became one of the main producers and distributors of carnation cuttings for Colombian growers.
1996
SB Talee decided to grow and sell carnations and spray carnations in the main cut flower markets of the world
United States, Canada, Japan, Germany, Netherlands, Russia, among others, an activity that took on its own identity in 2012 with the creation of the company GEOFLORA SAS.
1998
SB Talee Italia’s breeding program moves to Colombia
The company begins to develop and select carnation and spray carnation varieties locally, taking advantage of selecting varieties in the Sabana of Bogota, with ideal climate conditions for the cultivation of these plants.
2009
Alliance with Flavio Sapia
SB Talee strengthens the breeding program by inviting one of the most renowned ornamental breeders in Italy and the world, Mr. Flavio Sapia (Hybrida SRL), to collaborate in order to increase and improve the breeding program of new varieties.
2013
The company initiates a diversification program in cut flowers in the main cut flower markets of the world
As a result of the company’s continuous interest in innovating and offering its customers products of the highest quality, SB Talee establishes an important commercial alliance with Biancheri Creazioni, an Italian company that places its trust in SB TALEE by granting it the commercial representation of the Asian Ranunculus and Anemone Coronaria species, of which it is the first producer of varieties and plant material worldwide.
2015
SB Talee obtains the certificate as an exporting company issued by the Colombian Agricultural Institute
within the framework of the program “BIOSECURITY FOR THE PRODUCTION AND EXPORT OF PLANTS FOR PLANTING”. Endorsed by the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA), we comply with the requirements of the destination countries where we market our plants. 2018: SB Talee enhances the cut flower diversification program: In close alliance with Mr. Andrea Mansuino, SB Talee initiates trials in different products such as Hydrangea, Agapanthus, Delphinium and Helichrysum, recognized in other countries of the world for having cutting-edge genetics. To date, the results are promising and the company expects to be able to commercialize some of these varieties very soon.
2018
SB Talee boosts cut flower diversification program
In close alliance with Mr. Andrea Mansuino, SB Talee is increasing its cut flower diversification program, implementing trials in different products such as Hydrangeas, Agapanthus, Sunflowers and Hydrangeas. To date, the results are promising and the company expects to be able to commercialize some of these varieties very soon.
2022
We celebrate 60 years of work and pay tribute to our founder, Duke Forese Salviati!
SB Talee is celebrating 60 years of activity in which SB Talee is distinguished by innovation, high quality, compliance and punctuality in the delivery of its products. The celebration coincides with the tribute we pay to the founder of the company, Mr. Duke Forese Salviati, who will pass away at the age of 95 on October 25, 2022.
2023
Total success at Proflora 2023
SB Talee has participated in the most important fair of the floricultural world since its first edition in 1991. This year SB Talee stood out as the big winner in the breeders’ category in the carnation and spay carnation category, taking home all the awards on the podium. This unprecedented achievement ratifies the company as the undisputed leader in the sector.
2025
SB Talee consolidates as one of the main suppliers of standard and miniature carnation plant material in the world
In recent years SB Talee has decided to take its varieties to international markets and today is one of the main suppliers of carnation and mini carnation worldwide having direct agents in countries such as Brazil, China, Ecuador, Spain, Holland, India, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Turkey among others.
SB Talee was born as a carnation breeder and propagator company in Italy
A company originally founded by Forese Salviati & Palle Brunn in Tuscany, Italy dedicated to the research and development of new carnation and spray carnation varieties and to the production and distribution of mother plants and cuttings of varieties in many countries around the world.
SB Talee de Colombia was born
A subsidiary of SB Talee Italia, in a farm located 50 km east of the capital city of Bogota, to produce and sell carnation cuttings; in a few years the company became one of the main producers and distributors of carnation cuttings for Colombian growers.
SB Talee decided to grow and sell carnations and spray carnations in the main cut flower markets of the world
United States, Canada, Japan, Germany, Netherlands, Russia, among others, an activity that took on its own identity in 2012 with the creation of the company GEOFLORA SAS.
SB Talee Italia’s breeding program moves to Colombia
The company begins to develop and select carnation and spray carnation varieties locally, taking advantage of selecting varieties in the Sabana of Bogota, with ideal climate conditions for the cultivation of these plants.
Alliance with Flavio Sapia
SB Talee strengthens the breeding program by inviting one of the most renowned ornamental breeders in Italy and the world, Mr. Flavio Sapia (Hybrida SRL), to collaborate in order to increase and improve the breeding program of new varieties.
The company initiates a diversification program in cut flowers in the main cut flower markets of the world
As a result of the company’s continuous interest in innovating and offering its customers products of the highest quality, SB Talee establishes an important commercial alliance with Biancheri Creazioni, an Italian company that places its trust in SB TALEE by granting it the commercial representation of the Asian Ranunculus and Anemone Coronaria species, of which it is the first producer of varieties and plant material worldwide.
SB Talee obtains the certificate as an exporting company issued by the Colombian Agricultural Institute
within the framework of the program “BIOSECURITY FOR THE PRODUCTION AND EXPORT OF PLANTS FOR PLANTING”. Endorsed by the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA), we comply with the requirements of the destination countries where we market our plants. 2018: SB Talee enhances the cut flower diversification program: In close alliance with Mr. Andrea Mansuino, SB Talee initiates trials in different products such as Hydrangea, Agapanthus, Delphinium and Helichrysum, recognized in other countries of the world for having cutting-edge genetics. To date, the results are promising and the company expects to be able to commercialize some of these varieties very soon.
SB Talee boosts cut flower diversification program
In close alliance with Mr. Andrea Mansuino, SB Talee is increasing its cut flower diversification program, implementing trials in different products such as Hydrangeas, Agapanthus, Sunflowers and Hydrangeas. To date, the results are promising and the company expects to be able to commercialize some of these varieties very soon.
We celebrate 60 years of work and pay tribute to our founder, Duke Forese Salviati!
SB Talee is celebrating 60 years of activity in which SB Talee is distinguished by innovation, high quality, compliance and punctuality in the delivery of its products. The celebration coincides with the tribute we pay to the founder of the company, Mr. Duke Forese Salviati, who will pass away at the age of 95 on October 25, 2022.
Total success at Proflora 2023
SB Talee has participated in the most important fair of the floricultural world since its first edition in 1991. This year SB Talee stood out as the big winner in the breeders’ category in the carnation and spay carnation category, taking home all the awards on the podium. This unprecedented achievement ratifies the company as the undisputed leader in the sector.
SB Talee consolidates as one of the main suppliers of standard and miniature carnation plant material in the world
In recent years SB Talee has decided to take its varieties to international markets and today is one of the main suppliers of carnation and mini carnation worldwide having direct agents in countries such as Brazil, China, Ecuador, Spain, Holland, India, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Turkey among others.
Our farms
Sales room and showroom
See map
San Nicolás, municipality of Bojacá (Cundinamarca) in the Bogotá Savannah, 45 km (28 miles) west of Bogotá.
Our infrastructure
Today the company has a modern infrastructure that meets the highest quality standards in the production of plant material: biosecure greenhouses insulated with anti-thrip nets, a modern water treatment plant, a new generation of environmentally friendly gas boiler, among others, are added to rigorous and professional production processes, ensuring a product of the highest quality.
Water treatment plant
We have water treatment plant that allows us to obtain water of optimum physicochemical conditions and microbiological purity, as required to guarantee the highest quality of our plants throughout the propagation chain..
Gas boiler
The new generation gas boiler, environmentally friendly, is used for the disinfection processes of substrates required in the rooting and planting of 100% of our plants in the propagation cycles. The steam emitted by the boiler at more than 95 degrees Celsius ensures the elimination of pathogens harmful to plants, thus providing a substrate of optimum sanitary quality for the beginning of all planting processes.
Greenhouses with anti-thrip nets
Our greenhouses in the nucleus and grandparent plant areas are enclosed in anti-strip netting, in accordance with biosecurity standards to prevent the presence of pest insects and thus ensure the optimal quality of our plants throughout the propagation chain.
Decontamination Unit
This facility is a space designed and built for our fumigation team. Here, we provide all the necessary biosafety tools and follow a strict protocol to ensure the well-being and health of the workers.
Logistics
We distribute our cuttings and mother plants to growers in the Sabana of Bogota, with our own fleet of trucks equipped with “Thermo King” technology that guarantees the cold chain in our product, from the moment it leaves our packing room until it is delivered to growers in their farms. Our vehicles, which now display the new corporate identity, reflect the vitality and beauty of nature on every route they travel.
Certifications
Since 2015 SB TALEE has obtained the certificate as an exporting company issued by the Colombian Agricultural Institute (ICA) within the framework of the program “BIOSAFETY FOR THE PRODUCTION AND EXPORT OF PLANTS FOR PLANTING”. This certificate accredits us as a company that complies with the requirements of each destination country, through the quarterly audits of the ICA. The verification guarantees the physical structure of the facilities as an exporting company and the health of the plant material required in the destination countries.
Our production process
First generation
Nearly 20,000 nucleus plants or Extra-Elite plants, carefully cultivated in greenhouses isolated by anti-trip nets and with all the biosecurity measures and sanitary controls that guarantee the optimum quality of the material obtained there, give origin to the entire production process
Second generation
Maintaining the same infrastructure and biosafety standards, 220,000 grandmother plants are generated each year by the plants of the first generation, as an intermediate step towards the production of mother plants.
Third generation
The company markets more than 1.5 million mother plants to cuttings producers and plants in its own nursery 1.2 million mother plants to produce and distribute more than 30 millions of its own cuttings: About 165 million SB talee carnation plants bloom each year around the world.
Recycling and waste management
We have a WMP (Waste Management Plan) to minimize waste and to encourage reuse and recycling, generating the least possible impact on human health and the environment. We constantly train our employees in proper recycling practices.
Workers
We offer our workers safe working conditions, competitive salaries, medical care, extra bonuses, as well as transportation, food and education allowances.
Chemicals
We avoid using category 1 chemical products and pesticides which may damage endangered species and pollinators. We designed a program to plant trees around the greenhouses to prevent the spread of chemicals used (cat 2,3,4).
Social and environmental responsibility
To ensure the quality and technical rigor of the processes in these three generations, we have standardized procedures for the correct operation of equipment and tools, through which we ensure optimal management conditions in the company’s infrastructure, such as the biosecure greenhouses, the availability of the water treatment plant, the use of a new generation boiler and substrate disinfection area, among others.