Pitch perfect – how turf helps players reach their potential

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.

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