'Plants for the future' Technology Platform outlines strategic research agenda
Stakeholders got a glimpse into the future of European agricultural production on 5 July when the 'Plants for the future' Technology Platform unveiled its proposed strategic research agenda for plant genomics and biotechnology in Strasbourg, France. Some 290 people from 30 countries were involved in drafting the strategic research agenda, representing academia, industry, the agricultural and forestry sectors and other stakeholders. Plants form the basis of European industries with an annual turnover of more than 1 trillion euro, and the agenda sets out the key research priorities in this area for the coming two decades. Speaking at the launch event in Strasbourg, Europe's Commissioner for Science and Research Janez Potocnik said: 'Strategic research agendas are precisely the tools we need to ensure that we focus our research funding on areas of research that present a high degree of industrial relevance. [...] Technology Platforms are set to become champions of knowledge for growth. The first draft of the strategic research agenda presented today by the Technology Platform 'Plants for the future' demonstrates this in an impressive way.' The strategic research agenda, along with the action plan that will be developed to implement it, seeks to address four main challenges: - healthy, safe and sufficient food and feed; - sustainable agriculture, forestry and landscape; - green products from plants; - competitiveness, consumer choice and governance. For each challenge, a certain number of specific goals are identified and explained in further detail, before the planned research activities and deliverables in the short, medium and long term for each goal are outlined. Under the heading 'healthy, safe and sufficient food and feed', for example, the three goals identified are: develop and produce safe and high-quality food; create food products targeted at specific consumer groups and needs; produce safe, high quality, sufficient and sustainable feed. More detail is then given in terms of planned research activities within the next five, ten and 25 years. Those who drew up the strategic research agenda realise that its implementation will require more commitment from the public and private sector at all levels - European, national and regional. Therefore, on the basis of the draft agenda they will organise a wider stakeholder consultation in order to identify future national actions that could help with the implementation process. '[T]hese national actions will form the building blocks for the development of a detailed Draft Action Plan for the 2006 to 2010 period,' the document adds. The strategic research agenda also includes an implicit call for increased public and private investment in plant sciences, which Commissioner Potocnik described as 'timely'. 'While Europe pioneered the worldwide development of plant biotechnology in the 80s and 90s, research into the commercial use of plant biotechnology in Europe has now fallen behind that of its major competitors,' he warned. 'Europe must increase investment in this area if it wants to retain its science base.' Preserving Europe's scientific capabilities in this field was a theme echoed in the research agenda itself: 'Europe needs to become an incubator for top researchers and innovative companies, who are often tempted to develop their activities elsewhere. This is not the task of one organisation or of one country. It is only through the commitment of all stakeholders, working together in a coherent fashion at the European level, that we will be able to address these challenges.' In conclusion, Giles Chichester MEP, chair of the Parliament's industry, research and energy (ITRE) committee, said at the launch event: 'This is a vital area of science, both because of the benefits it can produce and as a significant source of economic growth. The way the interested parties have come together to establish this platform is a most impressive exercise in cooperation.'