What are the most important topics in turfgrass research? We spoke with Anne Mette Dahl Jensen, product development manager at DLF, a global seed company specializing in turfgrass, about the latest trends in the industry.
What are the current major topics in turfgrass research?
Dahl Jensen: The overarching themes are sustainability and technology—particularly with regard to the breeding and care of turfgrass.
What are the key markets driving the turfgrass industry today?
Dahl-Jensen: We generally divide the market into two areas: the consumer market, which includes domestic lawns and private gardens, and the professional market, such as golf courses, soccer pitches, cricket pitches and other sports facilities. The consumer market is larger in volume, but the professional sector is where most of the innovation and research is focused, especially at conferences like this one.
How has climate change affected the development of turf?
Dahl-Jensen: It has definitely made things more complex. We used to have access to herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and unlimited water – the focus was on aesthetics: density, color and appearance. Today, especially in Europe, there are strict regulations on pesticide use and water consumption. This means that we need grasses that are drought tolerant, disease resistant and require less input. All these traits need to be bred into a single plant – which makes the breeding process much more complicated.
Are there regions that cope more easily with these challenges than others?
Dahl-Jensen: Not really. Each region has its own difficulties. In Japan and parts of Asia, warm-season grasses such as Zoysia and Bermuda are used, which tolerate heat and salinity but still struggle with disease problems. In Northern Europe we are limited in the use of herbicides and fungicides, so weeds and diseases are a major problem. Southern Europe is struggling with transition zones that cause additional stress. Even the US, where there are fewer restrictions, faces challenges – but often from a different perspective.
The USA dominates global trends in golf equipment. Is this also the case with seed development?
Dahl-Jensen: Not to the same extent. Although many varieties bred in the US are exported to regions such as Southern Europe, the Middle East or Japan, this is not a general standard. US breeders often focus on dark green, visually appealing varieties – and these are popular in certain regions for aesthetic reasons, even if they are not ideal agronomically. Tradition and visual preference play a large role in variety selection.
How does research in Europe differ from that on other continents?
Dahl-Jensen: In Europe, we have embarked on a path that focuses more on sustainable turf and reduced pesticide use. What surprises me is that many international researchers are still very focused on optimizing pesticide use rather than looking for alternatives. There is still too little emphasis on pesticide-free management strategies.
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Are the health effects of pesticides ever discussed at international turfgrass conferences?
Dahl-Jensen: Hardly. The topic of health is simply not part of the mainstream discussion. It may have been touched on in a meeting, but it is not the focus.
Are there any important issues related to disease or breeding that are particularly noteworthy at the moment?
Dahl-Jensen: Yes, definitely. Dollar spot is very much in the spotlight. This disease has now become one of the most economically damaging turf diseases worldwide—we’re seeing it in the U.S., Europe, and even in the Nordic countries. Another important issue is water—both in terms of increasing drought, restrictions on irrigation, and the declining quality of irrigation water. This has become a central issue worldwide and has grown even more significant in recent years.
Do you have the impression that the golf industry is keeping pace with these developments?
Dahl-Jensen: Awareness is growing. At the last conferences, there were seminars specifically for practitioners, which were attended by many representatives of the golf industry. However, the problem is that we still don’t have enough region-specific research – especially in Europe. Many US studies are not directly applicable to our conditions and their adaptation can be misleading. Climate change is progressing faster than our research can keep up with.
How long does it actually take to develop a new grass variety and bring it to market?
Dahl-Jensen: It takes around 10 to 15 years from the start of breeding to market launch. That’s why events like this conference are so valuable – they help to identify the most pressing challenges so that we can start breeding today to solve the problems we will face in 10 to 15 years’ time.
