Detecting Grey Leaf Spot Before Symptoms Appear | IAGE | Turf Tech Summit 2026

By the time you see grey leaf spot, it's already too late. Olivier Courot, Business Development Director at IAGE, a French biotech company specialising in early detection of emerging diseases, explains how DNA analysis can find the pathogen long before symptoms appear. Olivier, a microbiologist rather than a turf expert, starts with a simple message: there is no shame in disease, but it has to be managed. He explains why grey leaf spot is so hard to control, how the pathogen spreads and survives, and how IAGE proved it can detect and quantify its DNA before any symptoms show, using the same principle as a Covid test. He shows how grounds teams can collect samples themselves, from simple wipes on mowers to grass clippings, roots, soil and even seeds, and shares what testing at 15 French stadiums revealed: healthy-looking turf with infected roots and soil. With case studies from Montpellier and Belgium, he explains why a positive result doesn't automatically mean treating, how pathogen data works together with weather, grass type and pitch history, and how early detection makes a more sustainable approach possible. CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction – Olivier Courot, IAGE 1:13 There is no shame in disease 2:13 Why grey leaf spot is so hard to manage 3:17 Acting before symptoms appear 3:42 How the pathogen spreads and survives 5:22 Detecting the pathogen's DNA before symptoms 7:16 Field results in French football 8:06 How sensitive is the detection? 8:42 Practical sampling: wipes, clippings, roots, soil and seeds 10:51 What 15 French stadiums revealed 12:50 A positive result doesn't automatically mean treatment 13:41 Combining pathogen data with weather, grass type and history 15:55 Detect early, measure, act at the right time 17:56 Case study: Montpellier 22:40 From early warning to management decision 24:36 A more sustainable approach 25:02 Case study: Belgium 26:10 Q&A: the role of AI 26:53 Q&A: making early detection practical SPEAKER Olivier Courot – Business Development Director, IAGE LINKS IAGE: https://www.iage-france.com ABOUT TURF TECH SUMMIT Turf Tech Summit brings together grounds managers, clubs, contractors and suppliers from across the world to share the latest knowledge and innovation in sports turf. Over two days, speakers from elite clubs, research and industry presented on the main stage and in the Focus Lounge, alongside indoor and outdoor exhibitions. This presentation was recorded at Turf Tech Summit 2026 at the Amex Stadium, home of Brighton & Hove Albion. Watch all presentations:    • Turf Tech Summit 2026 – All Presentations   More information: https://turftechsummit.com/ Follow Turf Tech Summit: LinkedIn:   / turftechsummit   Instagram:   / turftechsummit   Facebook:   / 1glemjg36p   The next edition will be announced soon. Subscribe to stay updated and to catch every new presentation. Watch also: Staying in Control When the Climate Is Out of Control – Natural Grass:    • Staying in Control When the Climate Is Out...   What 20 Years of Tetraploid Ryegrass Have Taught Us – DLF:    • What 20 Years of Tetraploid Ryegrass Have ...   #TurfTechSummit #GreyLeafSpot #Groundsman