Sod Solutions traveled to Milan, Italy, for the MyPlant & Garden – International Green Expo at Fiera Rho Milano from Feb. 19-21, joining Paradello Green Professionisti del Prato Naturale. Based in northwest Italy, Paradello has been producing high-quality natural turfgrass for over 30 years and is a licensed producer of NorthBridge® Bermudagrass and Innovation® Zoysia, two varieties gaining momentum in Europe.
Paradello showcased dormant Innovation Zoysia at its booth, highlighting its natural winter color and drawing interest from attendees curious about its adaptability in Italy’s climate. In the spring, Innovation will emerge from dormancy and transition to a vibrant green, offering a disease- and drought-tolerant solution for landscapes.
Paradello’s booth at the 2025 MyPlant & Garden Expo in Milan, Italy.
A rotating soccer ball-shaped display constructed with live turf showcased NorthBridge Bermudagrass in various growth stages. Each panel represented a different phase—root structure, dormancy, green-up and overseeded—allowing attendees to see firsthand how NorthBridge performs throughout the year. Many in the sports sector stopped to learn how natural grass provides a durable, high-performance playing surface.
Dormant Innovation® Zoysiagrass wall and floor at the Paradello MyPlant booth and a rotating dodecahedron of NorthBridge® Bermudagrass.
Turfgrass Trends in Sports & Golf
Erin Wilder and Cecilia Johnson at the 2025 MyPlant & Garden – International Green Expo.
Sod Solutions team members Erin Wilder, executive director of business and professional development for Sod Solutions Professionals, and Cecilia Johnson, media and content manager, attended to connect with industry professionals and discuss the latest advancements in turfgrass.
Paradello sponsored two industry-focused events at the 2025 MyPlant & Garden—one for sports and golf professionals and another for landscape professionals. The first, held on Wednesday, was titled 'Sports Trends in the United States and Europe – Research, News and Sports Case Studies' and was moderated by Gianni Casini, pitches supervisor and professional grounds manager at Paradello. Dr. Giovanni Castelli, a leading expert in European sports field management, opened the discussion with insights on pitch construction trends.
The presentations and talk show featured Wilder and Alejandro Reyes, director of agronomy at Turfgrass Agronomy & Services (TAS), who has extensive experience in golf course management. They discussed turfgrass use in European and U.S. sports and golf, covering trends, sustainability efforts, evolving industry practices and advancements in turfgrass technology. A packed audience listened through headsets providing real-time English-to-Italian translation, gaining a global perspective on sports turf management.
Alejandro Reyes and Erin Wilder lead the 'Sports Trends in the United States and Europe – Research, News and Sports Case Studies' discussion at MyPlant & Garden.
Sustainable Turfgrass for Landscapes
On Thursday, Federico Tuberga, director of agronomy for Emerald Green, moderated Wilder’s presentation on 'Innovative and Sustainable Turfgrasses for Gardens and Landscapes.' Paradello CEO Andrea Piva translated for the audience.
Wilder highlighted Innovation Zoysia’s success in Italy and how turfgrass research has led to the development of more resilient, sustainable varieties. She emphasized the environmental and recreational benefits of natural grass and introduced attendees to zoysia, bermudagrass and St. Augustine varieties, including newer releases like Sola® St. Augustine and CitraBlue® St. Augustine.
Erin Wilder presents on 'Innovative and Sustainable Turfgrasses for Gardens and Landscapes' at the MyPlant & Garden Expo.
After the presentations, attendees gathered at Paradello’s booth to network over aperitivos, espressos and organic beer from one of their farms on the Innovation Zoysia display.
“It was an honor to speak to leaders in Italy’s green industry and sports turf market at MyPlant & Garden,” Wilder said. “Sharing insights on the development of natural turfgrass in the United States and how it applies to home lawns, sports fields and golf courses in Europe was an invaluable opportunity to connect and exchange knowledge.”
Farm Tour & Industry Collaboration
Wilder and Johnson explored the expansive tradeshow floor on Friday before leaving for Brescia to tour Paradello’s farm and nursery operations with Casini, agronomist Maurizio Capelli and Filippini Pierluigi, Paradello’s production manager. During the tour, Paradello highlighted research plots, plug trials and dormant production fields of NorthBridge and Innovation, with some already allocated for upcoming projects. That evening, Wilder, Johnson and the Paradello team celebrated a successful week of industry collaboration over a traditional Italian meal.
Johnson and Wilder visit Paradello’s farm in Brescia following MyPlant & Garden.
“Paradello does an exceptional job informing and educating their market on natural grass solutions and this year’s MyPlant & Garden was a perfect example of their dedication to the industry and their team’s professionalism,” Johnson said. “We look forward to seeing NorthBridge and Innovation continue to thrive and expand in European markets.”
Strengthening Industry Connections
Beyond MyPlant & Garden, Paradello remains active in the international turfgrass industry. In the fall of 2024, it hosted Turfgrass Producers International for a full farm and educational tour as part of the Italian sod tour.
Most recently, in January 2025, the Paradello team traveled to the United States to attend the Sports Field Management Association (SFMA) conference in Palm Springs, California. After the event, they joined Sod Solutions director of research Roberto Gurgel and other Sod Solutions representatives to visit NorthBridge and Innovation production farms and commercial installations across South Carolina, Florida and Texas.
To learn more about the MyPlant & Garden – International Green Expo, click here. Visit Paradello’s website to learn more about their products and services.
This article was written by Cecilia Johnson.
