ETP 2018 Turf Expo, Troia-Comporta-Portugal
After the two smaller events in 2015 (Lincoln – UK) and 2016 (Ginosa – IT) in the “Farm Tour” format, and following the first Seminar & Turf Expo event in Ysselsteyn (NL) in 2017, the Novogreen Company organized the 2018 event on behalf of ETP, from 24th to 26th October in Troia-Comporta-Portugal.
Novogreen opened its new nursery in Comporta, Portugal, in spring 2018: the new land on which they cultivate the lawn has a natural substrate of silica sand that meets USGA standards; its location and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean provides a mild climate throughout the year, with average temperatures of 11º C to 25º C. The nursery has 5 pivots for total 110 hectares with natural grass varieties for the four seasons of the year.
On the morning of the opening day, Novogreen organized a golf tournament open to all attendees, at the 18 holes Tróia Golf, that was enjoyed by 50 participants. After the tournament, over 330 delegates gathered in the Aqualuz Tróia Hotel, Tróia, Portugal, where works kicked off with the annual General Assembly of members of ETP, with the welcome by the ETP President, Albrecht Knigge, and a report on membership and finances by ETP Secretary, Pierluigi Strada, followed by an exchange of ideas and debate on the future activities of ETP.
A total of 16 seminars have been planned, spread over two different rooms that operated at the same time, each lasting approximately 50 minutes, plus ten minutes of questions and answers. The talks were grouped thematically into three main blocks: agronomy, strategy and works. They were very attractive and interesting meetings, with more than 30 expert and renowned speakers in the sector and rooms were always full.
The seminars continued on the following day, 25th October, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On the same day, the gala dinner was held for all attendees and saw everyone in good armony and enjoying the networking time, with chatting and drinking continuing well into the night.
The last day saw the opening of the Turf Expo, held at the at Novogreen’s nursery in Comporta, where 5 centre pivot irrigation systems serve a total of 110 Ha of cool and warm season varieties, and the owner Rafael Castro proved to be an exquisite host to the great outcome of the event.
Over 300 people attended the Expo, which was blessed with typical warm Portuguese weather. The following exhibitors showcased their machinery and supplies:
Aqua-Aid Europe, Barenbrug Holland BV, Brouwer Kesmac, Campey Turf Care Systems, DLF, Greenmowers, Hunter Industries, ICL Specialty Fertilizers, ITGAP, Jacklin Seed – Simplot, Nannings van Vuuren Sales/Turf Tick Products, Novogreen, Precision Microbes, RED Relvados, Redexim, Riversa/Toro, Royalverd, Semillas Dalmau, Semillas Fitó, Sod Solutions, Tapiz Verde, Team Zoysia, Tepe y servicios las Cumbres, SL, Top Green, Turf Europe srl, Turfgrass Producers International, Turflynx, Lda, Vanmac B.V., Village Green, Vmow sarl.
The exhibition offered a catering service and a 600 square meter tent, a place where people had networking, with meetings between attendees and suppliers, and in general a place to rest and relax. This huge organising effort by Novogreen and their organizers, that was rewarded with the presence of delegates from 30 nations, set a very high benchmark for the future events.
ETP wish to express our sincerest thanks for a most professionally organised, interesting and utmost enjoyable turf show and seminars at Troia and the Novogreen premises in Comporta. Every detail was perfectly prepared and the feedback from was absolutely positive. The hospitality was very well received and the location perfectly chosen. Thank You !
ETP will be looking to repeat the Seminar & Turf Expo event in 2020 in Germany, while for 2019 organization is already underway to host participants at the next “Farm Tour” to be held in the October in Norway, hosted by Johnny Trandem at their sod farm Østfold Gress A/S.
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