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Technology Platform
Plants for the Future |
Plants for the Future
Subtitled, 2025 - a European Vision for Plant Genomics and Biotechnology, this publication was drawn up by a group of experts and led to the creation of a Technology Platform of the same name, which aims to bring together representatives of interested stakeholders to co-operate and refine the vision, to identify strategic priorities and to define and support the implementation of a coherent and dynamic research agenda. Download a copy of the report PDF
Executive Summary
Green revolutions and evolutions
Since time immemorial, plants have been crucial to our survival and prosperity. From the world's first 'green revolution' - the invention of agriculture - in the Middle East, to today's high-tech agribusiness, plants have been at the centre of our diets, economy and much more.
Plants are not only our food and fodder for animals but we also use them to make clothes, paper, paints, oils, medicines, and biodegradable plastics, among many other things. We all know that money does not grow on trees, but plants are a big part of our economic prosperity. The agro-food industry in the EU represents a Euro600 billion Euro annual turnover, utilising a fifth of the Union's land. It is the continent's third largest employer, with 2.6 million jobs - excluding farmers - mainly in small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The European food and drinks industry transforms more than 70% of the agricultural raw materials produced in the EU and exports in excess of 45 billion Euro. Forestry and its related industries employ more than 3.5 million Europeans and contribute more than 200 billion Euro to the EU economy.
We have come a long way since a 19th century Augustinian monk named Gregor Mendel found in plants that biological traits were passed on from one generation to the next by discrete 'factors'. Now known as 'genes', they form the basis for the scientific study of genetics upon which a growing part of modern science, medicine and technology is based. In the half century since the double helix structure of DNA - the 'king of molecules' and building block of genes which transmits genetic, or hereditary, information from parents to their offspring - was discovered, our understanding of the life sciences has progressed in leaps and bounds. Scientists have already painstakingly mapped out the entire human genome - the billions of sequences of DNA that constitute the genetic make up of our bodies. Although the exact functions of many of these strands is still not known, our growing knowledge of the molecular mechanics of organisms will one day yield vast health rewards. Genomics and biotechnology hold great promise of uncovering effective treatments for health problems.
Scientific investigation of the genome has not been limited to humans, but encompasses many other animal and plant species. Although the focus of research has tended towards human genomics, investing more in researching plant genomics will pay potentially huge dividends. The EU has long been a trailblazer in this area. Europe, for instance, was a key member of the international team which mapped out the first complete plant genetic sequence - that of Arabidopsis (a genus of the mustard family). Our expanding knowledge of the genetic make up of plants could dramatically change our approach to agriculture. Genetics will continue to pave the way to increasing agricultural yields, lowering our dependence on fertilisers, making crops more resistant to diseases, and more. In addition, we are now aware that we are taking advantage of only a small fraction of Nature's genetic diversity. There are enormous opportunities to use plants much more effectively to meet the challenges and demands facing European society in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way. Europe possesses a unique geographic and climatic diversity, a tremendous wealth of cultivated and undomesticated plant species, and long-standing plant breeding experience. Europe should build on the excellence it has achieved in this area by promoting new initiatives to make the most of this vital natural resource. Plant-based oils, lubricants, fibres and polymers - which, unlike synthetic plastics, can be broken down quickly by natural processes - could help to slash pollution.
However, Europe's research and development (R&D) efforts have so far been fragmented and have suffered from the lack of a coherent strategic vision. Regional, national and European research programmes, as well as public-private R&D partnerships, have not delivered enough successful applications or spin-offs. The EU's ambition is to build the world's most competitive knowledge-based economy. One important outlet for this cutting-edge knowledge should be what may be referred to as the 'bio-based economy'. Given the importance of the sector, the consequences for Europe of failing to act could be dramatic. We urgently need to place the European agricultural, forestry and food industries on more competitive ground - founded on a scientifically and ethically sound science and technology base - and enhance its ability to underwrite global food security and create new bio-based products.
The future competitiveness of Europe's agricultural and food processing industries will depend on plant genomics, biotechnology and their smart application. These areas are developing rapidly around the world, and Europe risks losing the competitive edge it once possessed as the mantle of innovation passes to the United States. Investments in plant biotechnology in Canada, Asia, India and South America are also accelerating rapidly as these countries seek to solve their food security problems and to capture a bigger share of agricultural trade. In contrast, Europe's position is declining as a consequence of the political inertia caused by the polarised and increasingly heated debate between opponents and advocates, with a sceptical and confused public caught in the crossfire.
If Europe is not to fall behind its major global competitors in this crucial area of innovation and future prosperity, the legitimate concerns of both critics and advocates need to be addressed. For instance, risk assessments carried out in recent years have uncovered no adverse health effects from genetically modified (GM) crops. We need to take a more holistic approach - used as part of a broader system, modern biotechnology can be a helpful addition to our current agricultural mix, although their misapplication could potentially have some adverse health and environmental effects Europe should proceed responsibly in developing biotechnologies while minimising any adverse effects.
The future is, of course, uncertain. Plant genomics and biotechnology is neither a magic wand that will wave away all our problems nor will it wreak havoc and disaster. To fully appreciate the potential benefits and pitfalls, and to chart a safe course through them, requires a publicly supported road map. That is the purpose behind the proposed creation of the Plants for the Future - tapping the potential of plant technology platform. There will undoubtedly be successes and set backs, but the potential rewards for our health and prosperity are too great for us to take a 'wait and see' approach.
Visionary platform
Plants for the Future will bring together all relevant stakeholders: researchers, policy-makers, environmental and consumer groups, industry, and farmers. These partners will co-operate in a pragmatic, non-dogmatic manner to reach a consensus on common priorities and draw up action plans to implement them.
This will be a challenging task but the payoff for sharing and acting upon a common vision could be enormous: a competitive, independent and sustainable bio-based European economy that will address the specific needs and choices of European consumers not only in terms of agriculture and food, but through applications in a wide range of fields, including plant-based pharmaceuticals, chemicals and energy.
The aims of this platform would be to suggest ways of:
The platform proposes that these goals can be reached by:
Contents
Foreword by Philippe Busquin
Group of Personalities
Signatories to : a European vision for plant genomics and biotechnology
Executive summary
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: Between prosperity and paradox
Chapter 3: A vision for
Chapter 4: The way forward
Annex: Selected glossary
Genval Group
Contacts
Contact
© Copyright 2006 Policy Statements
Updated
by CPL Press:
03/07/2007
- biomatnet@biomatnet.org
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