DSV presents revolutionary self-mowing grass |
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The German-Dutch grass breeding company DSV is conducting trials with a striking new trait in red fescue: self-mowing grass. It concerns an experimental variety developed using CRISPR-Cas technology.
According to DSV, an adjustment has been made in the DNA of the grass in the so-called elevated growth point, which—depending on the cultivar—is located at approximately 11 to 15 millimetres in red fescue. By inserting genetic material into this specific segment of the DNA sequence that activates the controlled dying off of the grass stem, growth automatically stops once the desired point is reached.
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'We are only at the beginning of what is possible with targeted gene editing in grass'
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The effect is remarkable: once a blade of grass reaches the set height, the tip dies off and falls away like a biological cutting mechanism. In theory, this could make mowing practically unnecessary, both on sports fields and in private gardens. Steven Wiersema, product manager at DSV Netherlands, emphasises that this is still an early stage of research: 'We are only at the beginning of what is possible with targeted gene editing in grass. The first results are promising, but stability and safety always come first. The idea of a lawn that maintains itself may sound futuristic—but that is exactly why we must be extra careful in our field trials.'
Field trials
DSV expects that this technology will not be available for the Dutch market for at least the next two to three years. However, limited field trials are already underway. According to internal sources, one of the main pitches of an upcoming World Cup tournament may even be sown with this new type of red fescue, to test the sustainability and uniformity of the mowing process in a top-level sports environment.
Turf Today
At the beginning of next month (1-04), the British scientific trade journal Turf Today will publish an extensive article on this research, explaining the genetic technique, the first trial results and the potential applications.
This article was previously published on 25 March 2026 on the Greenkeeper](https://www.greenkeeper.nl/article/53339/dsv-presenteert-revolutionair-zelfmaaiend-gras]Greenkeeper) website.
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