News
Sports Turf Microbial Management
Research Conference
Prof. Alan Gange highlights concerns at pioneering research conference
A PIONEERING research conference was held in December 2013 at Royal Holloway, University of London. Head of Biological Sciences School, Professor Alan Gange led the one day event to determine the research needs of the industry in the light of pesticide reform.
The event kicked off with a morning of introductory presentations given by key players in the sports turf industry. This was followed by an inspiring workshop where delegates discussed emerging problems with microbial management and how these issues could be solved. By identifying new and innovative areas of research, a detailed future research agenda was formed.
The broad delegate base included Master Greenkeepers, independent golf consultants,
leading stadia groundsmen, companies specialising in turfcare products, top soil academics and representatives from industry organisations such as The Greenkeepers Training Committee and The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association.
The necessity to hold such a conference was spurred from the recent revival of negotiations over the proposed Soil Framework Directive (SFD). With the European Parliament set to make a decision by May 2014, the impact of what may happen if the SFD is passed is a pressing issue.
With articles 9-14 of the SFD to introduce requirements to prevent soil contamination, it is therefore a particular worry to any industry which affects the state of soils. Although the UK and several other European
Professor Alan Gange
Member States, including Germany and Austria, have opposed the SFD, there is still a chance a majority vote within the European Council will be reached and the legislation implemented. There is a real worry that the new law would not respect the standards of subsidiarity or the high standards of training for pesticide sale and use which are already in place in the UK.
Furthermore, the soil industry has had to cope with the UK’s recent implementation of the Plant Protection Products Sustainable Use Regulations (PPP (SU)) (2012 no.1657). This was introduced to comply with the European Sustainable Use Directive (SUD)
(2009/128). As part of the European thematic strategy for pesticides, SUD brings tighter controls to the use and
availability of pesticides, ensuring plant protection products are used sustainably.
These are important and challenging times, with both soil and land management contributing to world policy issues of food security, climate change mitigation and adaptation and the preservation of biodiversity. However, with legislation curbing soil development, a large spectrum of industry and those responsible for landscape management, would be affected.
BIGGA TURF
organised by 21-23 JANUARY 2014
Harrogate International Centre North Yorks, HG1 5LA Central UK location
BIGGA Continue to Learn Education Programme
19-22 JANUARY 2014
Celebrating 25 years
MANAGEMENT EXHIBITION
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156