(From right to left as seated) Keynote speakers, Dr. Mark Schmidt, Dr. Bob Harriman and Dr. Renee Keese, join in a panel discussion during the NCSU Turfgrass Research Symposium. Photo courtesy of NCSU
Te chemical manufacturing industry has the responsibility of developing products which are thoroughly tested and pose no negative impacts on human and environmental health. Tis process requires time, money, personnel, and other resources and Dr. Keese stated that on average BASF spends approximately $2 million per day to bring new products into the market.
Dr. Keese went on to discuss that chemical companies aren’t just about new chemicals, but also new technologies to improve application, precision, and performance. New technologies will impact the development and use of new chemistries. Precision agriculture, including various technologies such as hyperspectral imagery, drones, and others will improve application techniques, increase accuracy, and reduce overall use of fertilizers, plant protection products, and water.
Precision agriculture using drones is already helping golf course superintendents successfully grow healthy turfgrass with fewer inputs. As we are well-aware, all of these inputs, particularly water, will continue to be a critical issue for turfgrass producers and managers, and all other participants in the agriculture industry throughout the world.
BASF, like other companies including Bayer and Syngenta, is always looking for ways to lead stewardship initiatives in the turfgrass industry. Dr. Keese discussed BASF’s biodiversity initiative called “Living Acres” that is focused on increasing monarch butterfly populations through establishing milkweed in non-crop areas and on golf courses. Bayer has the “Bayer Bee Care Program” which focuses on protecting bee health, and Syngenta has “Operation Pollinator” which is an international biodiversity program to boost pollinating insect numbers on farms and golf courses. Each of these programs will help lead the way in teaching the importance of pollinators in agriculture to future generations.
“It takes an average of 8-10 years, and $286 million to develop new products and bring them to market.”
– Renee Keese, PhD, Biology Project Leader, Research and Development, for BASF
TPI Turf News March/April 2018
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