Eco-innovation in golf: a pilot approach to institutional integration

1. Eco-innovation in golf: a pilot approach to institutional integration Frédéric Morand and Marjolein Visser Eco Innovation, Galway (Eire) and Brussels 2nd International Conference on Eco-Efficiency Egmond aan Zee (NL) 30 June 2006

2. Introduction • Result of IDARI project (Life, Key Action 5); • Part of a series of papers devoted to institutional integration Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

3. Acknowledgments • European Commission, 5th Framework, Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources, Key Action 5 (Sustainable Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and Integrated Development of Rural Areas Including Mountain Areas) • Aurélie Bellier, Oisin Kenny, Stéphane Menguy, Quentin Simons, Sebastian Stumpf • Support from the Sport Turf Research Institute (STRI, UK), Pitchcare Magazine, British and International Golfers and Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) • Alain Gange (Royal Holloway, University of London) Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

4. Working papers in progress • European sustainable development policy (1972-2005): fostering a two-dimensional integration for more effective institutions (POLICY) • Integrating concepts of institutions: a comparative introduction to Thévenot’s conventions (CONCEPT) • Measuring institutional integration in the (greening) European golf sector (METHOD) • Eco-innovation in golf: pest control or stress control? Institutional aspects of the control of Microdochium patch disease in Britain and Ireland(PILOT APPLICATION) • Integrating institutions: political drivers and analytical obstacles. A topical synthesis from the IDARI project (Recap) Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

5. Outline • Pb statement • Method • Results • Discussion • Conclusion Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

6. 1. Problem statement

7. Problem statement: outline • The green turn in European golf: less leeway for pest control strategies • Microdochium patch disease: 2 strategies • Objectives Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

8. Golf is a thriving industry • Europe (33 countries): > 6,000 courses (out of 32,000 worldwide), 3,7 M golfers in 2003. 50% growth since 1993. • Strongest future growth expected in Eastern Europe and Asia. • UK & Eire, 1991 to 2001: golf gained over 50,000 ha (+38%) while permanent grassland lost almost 5M ha (-35%) (EGA, Eurostat). • Golf tourism becomes a significant motor of rural development often rivalling other tourism activities (‘Costa del Golf’). • European golf directly employs 12 people in average. A 7 times multiplier effect is used for assessing golf’s indirect revenues. • Highly professionalized and knowledge-intensive industry: federations, advisers (RIPTA), research (STRI), associations (BIGGA), etc, etc. • Green turn since 1990. Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

9. ‘TV-studio’ courses have become the norm Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

10. Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

11. Cosmetic standards contribute to environmental stress Mowing heights +UV, heat + Pests + Fertility + Pollution etc • Stop oxygen reduction • Production of free radicals (toxic) Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

12. Golf faces a systematic revision of its pest control technology: • European Directive on substance authorization (91/414/EEC). • REACH: Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (2007?) • Thematic Strategy on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides(2007?) More: • EU Regulations 2076/2000/EC and 1112/2002/EC (4th Review) and Commission Decisions 2002/478/EC, 2002/479/EC and 2000/817/EC. • Commission’s 6th Environmental Action Plan (2001-2010), • Commission Directives: ‘Dangerous Substances’ (76/464/EC), ‘Groundwater’ (80/778/EC), ‘Drinking Water’ Directive (80/778/EC). • Rotterdam Convention on Prior Informed Consent (PIC, 2004). • Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs, 2001). • (…) Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

13. The ‘green turn’ initiated by the European golf industry Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

14. The green turn focuses on above-ground biodiversity . . . . Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

15. . . . . . . . . Cl Cl H H Cl H H Cl Cl Cl H H --> limited response to the pest-control issue Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

16. A pest model: Microdochium patch disease Pathogen: Microdochium nivale Source: T. Hsiang et al, 1999 Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

17. A pest model: Microdochium nivale (‘Fusarium patch’, Snow mould) • Economic importance: responsible for 1st fungal disease in golf (M. patch disease). • Biology: saprophyte (lives on decaying organic matters) ==> does not typically infect healthy plants. • Control: two possible strategies, compatible to a certain extent. Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

18. Strategy I (S1): pest control • Relies on the use of one input (or small group of inputs), often of synthetic origin • General aim: to kill the pathogen • Traditional, mainstream strategy in agriculture • Examples: iprodione, azoxystrobin, thiophanate-methyl Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

19. Strategy II (S2): stress control • Relies on the modification of an ecosystem • Promotes biological relations that relieve plant stress: biostimulation • Backed by substantial corpus of scientific literature: documented positive effect • Biostimulant: organic materials / small quantities / enhance plant growth & development • Examples of biostimulants: seaweed extracts, humic acids Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

20. Biostimulants • Triazole, humic acids, contained in seaweed •  Improve plant resistance to stress factors •  Enhance the root zone biology. • Environmental stress • UV, heat, pests, fertility, pollution, etc • Stop oxygen reduction • Production of free radicals (toxic) • Beneficial soil biota • Mineral & organic cycles • Increase root exchange surface • Symbiotic relations • Foster production of anti-oxydants. Biostimulants have direct and indirect action on environmental stress Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

21. Mature arbuscular mycorrhiza with numerous fine branch hyphae (total width: c.100 um) - Photo credit: Mark Brundrett Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

22. Section of Poa annua root stained for mycorrhizas. Photo credit: Alan Gange Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

23. Objectives To compare the institutional status of two strategies against M. patch Hyp: S1 is a fully institutionalised strategy whereas S2 is not institutionalised yet despite its proven potential Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

24. 2. Method

25. Method: outline • Analytical framework • Questionnaire overview • Implementation Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

26. . ______ . ______ . ______ Formal rules (driving code) Plans (driving manual) Personal routines (driving behaviour) Institutional framework • Integrating environmental concerns • Integrating governance levels Institutions can appear at distinct governance levels Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

27. Identification General characteristics GK’s profile Grass species mix Soil microbiology Plant care regulation statements 91/414/EEC ‘PPP’ Directive REACH system Thematic Strategy for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides M. patch incidence on greens Factors of M patch damage 3 main fungicides used Training in biostimulants (BS) 3 main BS used BS statements Optional comments Questionnaire: 13 areas Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

28. Statements on soil ecology-3 (“couldn’t disagree more”), 0 (“don’t know), +3 (“couldn’t agree more”) Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

29. Statements on regulations-3 (“this is false”), 0 (“don’t know), +3 (“this is true”) Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

30. Implementation of pilot survey • Online questionnaire • Email + telephone prompt • 44 responses analysed (UK=30, IE=14) Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

31. 3. Preliminary results

32. Distribution of respondents by product use Pesticide use: 79% (S1) BS use: 27% (S2) Exclusively: 60% Both: 20% Exclusively: 0.07% Neither: 0.14% ==> No correlation with presence/absence of environmental management plan Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

33. Incidence of M. patch • Parklands are more affected • No relation between incidence and: • Environmental plan • N of rounds • Fungicide use • Biostimulant use • Climate ranked first among factors Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

34. Scatter plot of the % cover by P. annua and the aver. N of rounds played/yr Markers are according to the stated economic incidence of M. Patch (scale 0-5). Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

35. Knowledge statements on pesticide regulations and soil ecology • Misunderstanding of soil microbial testing - confused with nutrient analysis or pH testing • 20% state to ‘perform microbial testing • 82% state either no presence of mycorrhiza, or ignorance about it (‘No’ or ‘I don’t know’) • Again, no relation to having environmental management plan Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

36. PC Analysis of knowledge statementsScores of the original variables (greenkeepers) on PC1 and PC2. Stated fungicide use (S1) and biostimulant use (S2) to fight M. patch is overlaid. • Nine statements scoring: • 3 important pesticide regulations • Soil ecology • Greenkeepers: variables. Scores: cases • 2 PC: PC1 (32% of variation extracted) and PC2 (14%) • 3 groups of greenkeepers. But overlays of categorical variables (env plan, degree, S1/S2) on this loading plots did not yield any interpretable pattern Loading plot of the PCA Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

37. Scores of knowledge statementsLabels refer to the question codes. Q6 codes: 9 statements on European pesticide regulations (clustered toward negative side of PC1) Q12 codes: 9 statements on soil ecology. • Inform the nature of statements and greenkeeper groups • Regulation statements (Q6) and soil ecology (Q12E:true + Q12F false): 0 scores (“non familiar” or “don’t know”) • Q12C, Q12D, Q12G: high frequency of 0 scores (“don’t know”) • Q12C (“compost = BS because rich in hormones”): 57% agree… • Q12A,B,H,I: scored +3 by a majority of respondents Scores of the cases (statements) on PC1 and PC2 Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

38. 4. Preliminary discussion

39. Main results • M. patch = important disease worrying all categories of greenkeepers • S1 more institutionalised than S2: • Compliance even with ignorance of formal rules • S2 is not codified, is marginally used • Poor awareness of: • soil ecology basics • emergent pesticide regulations Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

40. Related issues • Environmental management plan • No relation with key variables • A variety of justifications • Significant misunderstanding of questions related to S2 • Microbial testing (bad positive answers) • Use of BS (bad negative answers) • No such misunderstanding for S1 questions • Codification matters • Contrasted R&D and regulatory history between S1 and S2 Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

41. 5. Conclusion

42. Recap on the two main strategies • S1: regulation <==> strong R&D codification • S2: regulation <==> little R&D codification • Policy relevance of stress control (S2) Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

43. Preliminary policy recommendations • Positive conventions (rules) are lacking • Implications for the ‘green turn’ • Environmental standards and environmental differentiation Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

44. Cl Cl H H H Cl H Cl Cl Cl H H Negative convention: ‘DON’T use this stuff’ (it’s not green) Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH, e.g.: Lindane) Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

45. INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOUR ?? Cl Cl H H H Cl H Cl Cl Cl H H Lack of positive convention(WHAT is green then?) COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT (ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY) Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

46. Promising avenue: developing efficient biostimulants Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

47. Cl Cl H H Cl H H Cl Cl Cl H H Raising awareness:soil biodiversity matters! . . . . . . . . . . . Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

48. Develop standardisation ==> Include soil functional ecology in environmental certification (EMAS) Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

49. Limits Pilot scale (representation issues) Institutional framework still fresh (peer-review in progress) No LCA! Energy / Fertilizers / Residues / …? Product attributes (…) Perspectives Provides hypotheses for broader survey (in golf and others) Refine institutional statements for better framework ==> toward social acceptance indicators (& standards?) Articulation with LCA (EMBED FP6 proposal) Lessons for Lisbon strategy Limits and perspectives Frédéric Morand & Marjolein Visser www.eco-innovation.net

50. Thank you