Grass covers 20 percent of the earth’s surface. It conserves water. It cleans the air. What can we learn from it?
That was the question on my mind when I contacted grounds managers in the Bundesliga, one of the world’s leading football competitions. Working at the time in precision agriculture, I was keen to meet a community that manages grass every day and understands the science behind it. And I was looking for new answers to our oldest questions: how can we live sustainably as a species, and what can we learn from plants?
Managing the 8,000 square metres of a football pitch has always been a full-time job. It calls for green fingers, an eye for the weather, and a healthy supply of patience. Today, it comes with a special responsibility.