b'FORAGE & TURFLess InputMore Genetics!CHRISTIAN S. JENSEN Head of Corporate Product ManagementDLFcsj@dlf.comdlf.com@DLF_SeedsIn all history of mankind, crop yields and turf performance havefuture-proof solutions. So, instead of looking at breeding gains per never been as high as during the past 20 years. This performancese, perhaps it is time to look for gains relative to input.level, completely unimaginable 100 years ago, has been drivenAt DLF, this way of regarding variety performance, has already by extremely efficient plant breeding. For some traits and somefor several years changed breeding perception and targets. Fortuned species, we are likely already past the limits of what genetics canby a global screening setup, it has been possible to develop new do under optimal conditions. Is there still a need for breedingturf varieties fast, which show increased resistance under differ-forage and turf? ent attacks. When asked, several professional turf managers today Before we answer that question, lets just admire the yield gainsprefer disease resistance over turf quality. It is our hope that the obtained during the past century in major crops: Wheat from 1.5European official variety testing system soon will adapt to these to 7.5 ton/ha; maize from 1.5 to 9.0 ton/ha; perennial ryegrasstrends and change its reward principles accordingly.forage from 13.5 to 16.0 ton/ha. All-in-all a tremendous effort.Both for forage and turf, robustness towards climate However, this accomplishment was only possible due to intensiveextremes will be paramount. But breeding takes time, and we pest control and fertilizer applications. Since 2020, most of the yieldnow struggle to compete with the pace by which these changes gain curves in major crops have broken and significant declines areoccur. One of our prime tools in this regard is Genomic Selection evident. Whether the same holds true for forage- and turf grasses(GS), which is used both to predict performance under various remains to be seen. conditions and to select lines generating less methane during But something has changed! Growth conditions are no longerfeeding of ruminants. what they were 10 years ago: Both forage and turf are now subjectAnother is New Genomic Techniques (NGT), which holds to very firm pesticide- and fertilization constraints and new varietiesthe capacity to alter single genes into more climate-friendly traits. not only need to deliver the same performance for less; they mustUsed correctly and in combination with shortened life cycles these also take care of their own protection. Add to these new requests oftools will reduce breeding time with up to 50%. This year, DLF has being more robust and capable of reducing climate effects. Nothinglaunched no less than 12 new forage- and turf varieties. They repre-is for free, and when breeding is directing its efforts towards moresent the tip of our efforts and in comparison, with input needs, they disease resistance, other traits will gain less traction. Is that bad?are all outstanding. Some things have changedour plant breed-No, it just represents a much-needed adaptation to more sustainable,ing has changed; and with less input, it is more needed than ever!BUSINESS GROWTHThe #1 Reason Your Story Isnt Landing (And How to Fix It)SHAWN BROOK PresidentSeed World Groupsbrook@seedworldgroup.comseedworldgroup.comshawnbrookWeve all heard it a thousand times: tell your story. I like Merriam-Websters take on what intent is: earnest and And yet, here we are, still talking about it. Why? Becauseeager attention. Thats it. If you bring earnest and eager attention while everyone knows theyre supposed to do it, too many are get- to the person youre trying to reach, your story will land.ting it wrongand the difference between checking a box andHeres where we complicate things unnecessarily. Too often, truly connecting is everything. companies jump straight into planning: firing up the social media The fatigue people feel around storytelling doesnt comecalendar, drafting the press release, booking the booth at the trade from the act itself. It comes from forgetting why we do it. Ifshow.youre telling your story because a VP of marketing told you toBut a plan without strategy is like building a seed plant without crank out three LinkedIn posts a week, youre not actually tellinga blueprint. Strategy is the how and why. Plan is the what and when. a storyyoure fulfilling a quota. Thats not connection, thatsWhen you shortcut strategy, execution falls apart.compliance. So before you post another video or write another article, ask The stories that matterthe ones that resonate with farmers,three questionsin this order:regulators, customers, and your peersstart with intent. True1.Whos the audience? Who specifically are you trying tointent. And thats where most organizations stumble. reach?When your intent is about making yourself the hero, youre2.Whats the message? What do they need to hear? just information sharing. Thats fine, but its not storytelling.3.Which channel? Only after the first two are clear does theStorytelling begins when the other person becomes the hero.channel matter.When your audience can see themselves in the arc of what youreFlip that order, and youll end up with noise. Follow it, and saying, youve crossed into connection. youll find connection.24ISEED WORLD EUROPEISEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPE | SEPTEMBER 2025'