Nature, nurture and protect

Glenn Kirby is Research Director at STRI R&D, where he leads a multidisciplinary team delivering applied research across golf, sportsturf, and amenity sectors. Together, the STRI R&D team design and deliver trials, generate data, and translate findings into practical guidance for turf managers and industry partnersGlenn’s role focuses on shaping research programmes and ensuring they remain both scientifically robust and relevant to real-world challenges. Working closely with colleagues across trials, agronomy, and laboratory services, the team continues to develop new approaches to data collection, interpretation, and communication.  Presentations are delivered by Glenn alongside members of the STRI R&D team, reflecting the collaborative nature of the work and providing a range of perspectives from those directly involved in research delivery.

Sean Loakes is Technical Manager for Syngenta Turf across Europe.

He provides technical support for all Syngenta products used by turf and landscape businesses and their customers. His role includes research trials to develop practical solutions for turf management issues and instigate best practice to achieve optimum results.

With the increasing importance of biopesticides within integrated turf management (ITM) programmes, he plays a key role in developing new strategies to meet the evolving challenges for customers using a full range of cultural and chemical controls.

A qualified biologist, Sean has had a career in environmental science and research through practical field trials and laboratory studies. He works alongside the Syngenta technical turf teams from Europe and across the globe to identify and develop new world-leading solutions from the company’s exciting pipeline of R&D products and services for UK landscape industries.