Final Report Summary - TP PLANTS AND HEALTH (The European technology platform on plant genomics and biotechnology: plants for healthy lifestyles and for sustainable development)
- develop a long-term strategic plan for European plant genomics and biotechnology until 2025 based on the long-term vision paper;
- articulate an action plan for European plant genomics and biotechnology until 2010 based on the long-term strategic plan;
- provide European citizens with the choice of a healthier lifestyle;
- engage in constructive collaboration with policy makers in EU and at national levels to advise and offer support for implementation of the action plan.
The work performed contributed towards developing the following:
- a common vision for plant genomics and biotechnology research in the EU and a discussion of this amongst policy makers to develop coherent research policy measures;
- the recommended research priorities already highlighted in the stakeholders proposal for a SRA 2025 and action plan 2010 were already taken into consideration by academic and private research institutions, as well as by EC and MS government policy makers, in preparing the plant genomics and biotechnology component of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7);
- an increased interaction between the public and private plant genomics and biotechnology research sectors, with the aim of stimulating knowledge to be turned into innovation leading to increased productivity and competitiveness of Europe;
- a more balanced public debate recognising plant genomics, biotechnology, classical agricultural practices and organic farming all as natural and valid components of both research and application. All of them were recognised to contribute to major challenges for Europe's society and were, therefore, recommended as areas for high-level support from both the public and the private sectors.