The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) recently collaborated with turf management specialist Syngenta over a recent fact-finding visit by Premier League groundsmen to the Syngenta Turf Research facility at Stein in Switzerland.
With 30 or so groundsmen in attendance – drawn from the Premiership as well as clubs such as Reading and Derby, and including grounds managers of the clubs’ main stadia and academy playing surfaces – the two-day trip provided exclusive insights into the company’s $850 million research and development programme, in addition to face-to-face discussions with officials from the Professional Footballers’ Association and the Premier League.
Chaired by IOG chief executive Geoff Webb, the first day’s programme enabled open discussions about the implications to the playing surface by such activities as warm-up periods.
On the second day, delegates toured the impressive facilities at Stein where Syngenta Turf Researcher Dr Eva Haensel explained that it can take over 10 years and cost around £100 million to create a new turf management product. She also highlighted how “it is crucial that each new innovation brings a significant advantage for groundsmen”.
She continued: “We rely on the direct feedback from groundsmen to ensure we are focusing on the development of products that are especially relevant to the issues being faced, as well as providing practical advice and techniques to ensure they can be used as effectively as possible.”
The research facility has been instrumental in developing the use of Primo MAXX on sports turf surfaces, as well as new turf fungicides planned for UK launch in 2009.
Darren Baldwin, grounds manager at Tottenham Hotspur FC, praised the Syngenta team for its hospitality and professionalism, and thanked the IOG’s Head of Sales & Marketing, Kevin Duffill, for such an appropriate programme of events.
“Being able to get so many Premier League grounds professionals together was an achievement in itself,” he said, “and we all found it really useful to exchange opinions and to present those views to the footballing authorities.
“In addition, of course, the visit to the research centre was a real eye opener – the level of Syngenta R & D is quite amazing, and it was really helpful for us to understand what goes into the development and testing of chemicals, for example, before they reach the market.”
Syngenta Turf Manager, Simon Elsworth, added: “We hope that having seen the investment and commitment that goes into developing products, visitors will have full confidence and assurance in the performance of Syngenta products on the pitch.”
The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) is the leading membership organisation representing grounds managers, groundsmen, grounds maintenance managers, greenkeepers and all others involved in the management of sports pitches, landscape and amenity facilities in the UK. As well as maintaining the IOG Performance Quality Standards and providing a consultancy service for sports grounds, lawn maintenance and amenity horticulture, the IOG’s extensive Training and Education programme includes cricket, football, tennis, horseracing, bowls, artificial surfaces, turf science and many other specialist subjects. It also stages the annual IOG SCOTSTURF and IOG SALTEX exhibition, Europe’s leading show for the open space profession. For more information visit www.iog.org
Source: Wildish Communications Ltd
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