Turfgrass Stakeholder Summit II
About the Event
The National Turfgrass Federation (NTF) and The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), with the support of the event sponsors, partnered together to review the accomplishments from the September 2017 national turfgrass workshop, set future research priorities and suggest FFAR/industry research projects for funding.
Participants included selected stakeholder representatives from the following segments of the turfgrass industry: golf, sports turf, lawn care, grounds maintenance; university and USDA scientists; USDA-ARS and NIFA National Program leaders; irrigation, plant protectant and equipment companies, landscape architects, native plant specialists, environmental groups and others.
This Convening Event was an interactive and engaging virtual meeting. It allowed participants to outline priorities of the national turfgrass needs by discussing implementation strategies and by identifying subsequent funding mechanisms and potential collaborative efforts with FFAR, USDA and other organizations. The National Turfgrass Research Initiative (NTRI) will be revised and updated to address current and future issues in the turfgrass industry.
Goals and Objectives
The National Turfgrass Federation (NTF) and The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), with the support of the event sponsors, partnered together to review the accomplishments from the September 2017 national turfgrass workshop, set future research priorities and suggest FFAR/industry research projects for funding.
Participants included selected stakeholder representatives from the following segments of the turfgrass industry: golf, sports turf, lawn care, grounds maintenance; university and USDA scientists; USDA-ARS and NIFA National Program leaders; irrigation, plant protectant and equipment companies, landscape architects, native plant specialists, environmental groups and others.
This Convening Event was an interactive and engaging virtual meeting. It allowed participants to outline priorities of the national turfgrass needs by discussing implementation strategies and by identifying subsequent funding mechanisms and potential collaborative efforts with FFAR, USDA and other organizations. The National Turfgrass Research Initiative (NTRI) will be revised and updated to address current and future issues in the turfgrass industry.
Goals and Objectives
- To review and update attendees on research needs identified in 2017, as well as progress in securing funded to address research priorities.
- To develop an understanding of research capabilities within various federal, private and non-profit sectors, capacity and locations, particularly within FFAR.
- To prioritize and define turfgrass research needs on a regional and national basis.
- To identify research capabilities within federal, state and non-profit sources, and assign specific project areas to each sector.
- To consider a federal turfgrass competitive grants program, the mechanism for awards and organizational structure.
- To organize a working group of stakeholders to advise and consult with on national turfgrass research programs, within federal or non-profit funding sources.
- To develop a strategy for implementation and funding of documented research needs.
