Breeding the Seed Stars of the Future
Congratulations to the Turf Business team on the publication of their 200th magazine, and 20 years of being at the forefront of industry news and views!
Browsing through past issues gives us the opportunity to reflect upon the great strides our industry has taken. Some developments are very visible, while others can be overlooked because the innovation is hidden in plain sight. Grass seed is an excellent example of this.
From Trial Plots to Trusted Mixtures
20 years might seem like a long time, but in plant breeding terms it is relatively short. Developing a new grass cultivar typically takes 10-15 years from initial crossbreeding to commercial release. It’s a cycle that requires patience and precision. Each generation is meticulously selected for desirable traits, with trials taking place in multiple environments across the UK and Europe to ensure varieties are proven under local conditions. Only those that deliver exceptional results are incorporated into professional mixtures. The BSPB/STRI seed listings are an independent benchmark, verifying performance to give customers confidence when choosing the best seed for their situation.
That makes the developments in 20 years of progress in plant breeding even more impressive. Barenbrug has introduced dozens of new grass varieties into the UK market, each the result of a long-term, targeted breeding programme. The foresight of our researchers to consider factors beyond typical performance characteristics has delivered significant benefits for today’s turf managers. While traits such as rapid germination and establishment, durability, disease tolerance, fineness of leaf, cleanness of cut, shoot density and visual merit were prioritised, our breeders also focused on those with exceptional drought tolerance, grasses that thrive in lower nutrient input regimes, and those that excel in their ability to sequestrate carbon.
Technology Meets Tradition
Our scientists aren’t looking for the outstanding grasses for today; they’re focused on delivering attributes that will help the next generation of turf managers deliver high quality surfaces for sport and recreation while adapting to a changing climate and tighter environmental regulations. Tomorrow’s outstanding cultivars are being developed where technology meets tradition. Breeding still relies on natural cross-pollination and field selection, but technology now plays a bigger role: digital phenotyping, satellite data, and molecular markers speed up the identification of superior plants. This blend of modern science and more than a century of breeding expertise ensures each new variety is a step forward.
Barenbrug’s Sports Turf Highlights in the Last Two Decades
- Regenerating Perennial Ryegrass (RPR) with unique self-repairing stolons for sports turf.
- Ultrafine Ryegrass varieties and new Hard Fescues to improve turf performance and sustainability in golf.
- Sustainable Grass Technology (SGT) bringing together leading varieties for lower input, climate-resilient solutions.
Today’s Trial Plots are Tomorrow’s Solutions
While it’s satisfying to look back on what has been achieved, it’s important we look ahead to the challenges and opportunities the next 20 years will bring. Future breeding will prioritise resilience - grasses that thrive in hotter, wetter, or more variable climates, and there will be a greater emphasis on multifunctional grasses: not only for playability, but also for carbon capture, pollinator support, and soil health.
The journey is ongoing. Somewhere, in a trial plot not too far from you, the seed stars of the future are emerging.
