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EUR 21359 EN

Epso - Plants for the future 12-2004 23-12-2004 12:00 Pagina 1


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EUROPEAN COMMISSION

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Directorate-General for ResearchFood Quality and Safety

EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Plants for the Future

2025 a European vision for plant genomics and biotechnology

EUR 21359 EN2004



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Table of contents

Foreword by Philippe Busquin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Group of Personalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Signatories to 2025: a European vision for plant genomics and biotechnology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Executive summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Chapter 1: Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Chapter 2: Between prosperity and paradox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Food for thought . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Falling behind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

What is at stake for Europe? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Eliminating a costly paradox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Chapter 3: A vision for 2025 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Food trends and challenges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Sustainability a means and an end . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Competitive research policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Coherent policy framework . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Chapter 4: The way forward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Strategic priorities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Main activities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Management structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Road map and milestones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Annex: Selected glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Genval Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

2025

a European vision for plant genomics and biotechnology



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Plants have always been the most impor-tant resource for humankind, not only forfood and feed, but also for other importantbiomaterials, such as oils, fibres, energy,

and wood for building houses and ships.Plant cells produce biomass from simplechemical building blocks in the air and thesoil, including carbon dioxide, nitrogen andwater, using the sun as a for-free energysource. The cultivation of plants some10 000 years ago can be seen as the star-ting point of modern civilisation. The exploi-tation of plant-based fossil resources suchas petroleum, gas or coal made theindustrial revolution possible in the 19thcentury, and led to the creation of the che-mical industry in the 20th century.

Today, in the face of important challengesat the European and global levels, we mustpay renewed attention to plants. A growingworld population has to be fed, and increa-sing demands for high-quality, safe andaffordable food have to be met. Fossilresources limited in availability and amajor source of greenhouse gas emissionsthreatening our climate and our health will need to be replaced with renewableresources. The transition to a sustainableeconomy based largely on renewableresources the bio-based economy is as

inevitable as it is desirable.

Scientific and technological progress, espe-cially in plant biotechnology and genomics,will have to play a role in achieving thistransition, in particular under the con-straints of limited availability of arable land,climate change and increased seasonalweather instability. Biotechnology can helpto breed plants that are more drought resi-stant and stress tolerant, and to increaseagricultural productivity, while reducingsuch inputs as fertilisers, pesticides andwater to ensure long-term sustainability.

Europes scientific and technological capa-bilities will also strongly determine thecompetitiveness of some of its largestindustries. This concerns the agro-foodindustry in the first place, which with morethan 600 billion in annual turnover, is theleading industrial sector in the EU. But it isalso important for the chemical and energyindustries. Our S&T capacity will likelychange the face of agricultural production,which employs 8% of the EU25 workforceand counts 17 million farms.

Maintaining and strengthening our scienti-fic and technological basis is of criticalimportance. We need to become an incuba-tor for top researchers and innovative com-

panies, who are often tempted to developtheir activity elsewhere. This is not the taskof one organisation or of one country. It isonly through the commitment of all stake-holders, working together in a coherentfashion at the European level, that we willbe able to address these challenges.

For this reason, I very much welcome thePlants for the Future vision paper. The goalsit sets out are very much in line with theEUs objectives of becoming the most com-petitive and sustainable knowledge-basedeconomy by 2010. The March 2003

European Council explicitly called for thestrengthening of the European research andinnovation area to the benefit of all in anenlarged Europe by creating technologyplatforms bringing together all relevant sta-keholders including researchers, industry,regulators and financial institutions todevelop a strategic agenda for leading tech-nologies, among them plant genomics.

This vision paper is an early milestonetowards realising this recommendation. ThePlants for the Future technology platform comprising an Advisory Council and wor-

king groups, open to the stakeholders sup-porting this vision paper, Member Statesand other interested partners and experts will be established within the comingmonths with the goal of delivering a strate-gic research agenda by the end of this year.

I would like to thank the entire group of per-sonalities that are supporting this visionand the behind-the-scenes team who draf-ted it and shepherded it through its variousstages of evolution. Its implementation willdepend on the continuing involvement andcommitment of all stakeholders and theeffective coordination of all instruments andavailable resources, including Communityprogrammes, to achieve a critical mass interms of financial, scientific and technologi-cal resources.

I wish the technology platform everysuccess. Europe needs it.

Philippe BusquinEuropean Commissioner for Research

24th June 2004

Foreword by Philippe Busquin



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This vision has been drawn up through a col-laborative effort by a group of experts (theGenval Group) and endorsed by the Group ofPersonalities representing various stakehol-ders (see page 6). It is neither exhaustive norcomprehensive and covers only selected

aspects of broader issues. The vision, viewsand information expressed in this documentare those of the group as a whole and do notnecessarily reflect the opinions of any singlemember, their organisations, or of theEuropean Commission. Neither the signato-ries nor the European Commission is respon-sible for the use which might be made of theinformation contained in this publication.

This vision paper suggests the creation of atechnology platform called Plants for theFuture. The goal of this platform is to bringtogether representatives of all interested sta-

keholders including scientists, industry, con-sumers, environmental organisations, regula-tory bodies, political decision- and policy-makers at EU, national and regional level, andother interested stakeholders to co-operatepragmatically to refine this vision, to identifystrategic priorities, and to define and supportthe implementation of a coherent and dyna-mic research agenda.

Disclaimer



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Philippe BUSQUIN, EU Research Commissioner

Feike SIJBESMA, President of EuropaBio, the European Bioindustries

Association, DSM board member

Marc ZABEAU, President of EPSO, the European Plant Science Organisation

Jim MURRAY, Director of BEUC, the European Consumers OrganisationMohamed H.A. HASSAN, Executive Director of the Third World Academy

of Sciences

Federico MAYOR, former Director-General of UNESCO, Autonomous University

of Madrid, President of the Foundation for a Culture of Peace (ES)

Jean MARTIN, President of CIAA, the confederation of the food and drink

industries of the European Union

Eggert VOSCHERAU, President of Cefic, the European Chemical Industy

Council, Vice-chair of the Board at BASF (DE)

Jochen WULFF, former CEO of Bayer CropScience (DE)

Pierre PAGESSE, Presidium Member of COGECA, General Confederation of

Agricultural Co-operatives in the European Union, President of Limagrain (FR)

Ricardo SERRA ARIAS, Vice-President of COPA, Committee of Agricultural

Organisations in the European Union, Vice-President of ASAJA (ES)

Sten MOBERG, President of ESA, the European Seed Association, CEO Svalf

Weibull Seed Group (SE)

Andrzej LEGOCKI, President of the Academy of Sciences Poland (PL)

Richard B FLAVELL, CSO of Ceres (USA), former Director of John Innes Centre

Norwich (UK)

Christiane NSSLEIN-VOLHARD, German Nobel Prize laureate (DE)

Peter GRUSS, President Max Planck Society (DE)

Tim HUNT, UK Nobel Prize laureate (UK)Julia GOODFELLOW, CEO BBSRC (UK), the Biotechnology and Biological

Sciences Research Council

Marion GUILLOU, Director-General of INRA (FR), the French Institute for

Agronomy Research

Peter FOLSTAR, Director of the Netherlands Genomics Initiative (NL) and

coordinator of ERA-NET Plant Genomics

Andreas J. BCHTING, Chair Economic Network of Plant Genome Research (DE)

Group of Personalities



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Signatories to 2025 : a European vision for plant

genomics and biotechnology

Philippe Busquin Ricardo Serra Arias

Feike Sijbesma

Sten Moberg

Marc Zabeau

Andrzej Legocki

Jim MurrayRichard B. Flavell

Mohamed H.A. Hassan

Christiane Nsslein-Volhard

Federico Mayor

Peter Gruss

Jean MartinTim Hunt



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Signatories to 2025 : a European vision for plant

genomics and biotechnology

Eggert Voscherau

Julia Goodfellow

Pierre Pagesse

Jochen Wulff Marion Guillou

Peter Folstar

Andreas J. Bchting



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Green revolutions and

evolutionsSince time immemorial, plants havebeen crucial to our survival and prospe-rity. From the worlds first green revo-lution the invention of agriculture in the Middle East, to todays high-tech agribusiness, plants have been atthe centre of our diets, economy andmuch more.

Plants are not only our food and fodderfor animals but we also use them tomake clothes, paper, paints, oils,medicines, and biodegradable plastics,among many other things. We all knowthat money does not grow on trees,but plants are a big part of our econo-mic prosperity. The agro-food industry

in the EU represents a 600 billionannual turnover, utilising a fifth of theUnions land. It is the continents thirdlargest employer, with 2.6 million jobs excluding farmers mainly in smallto medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).The European food and drinks industrytransforms more than 70% of the agri-cultural raw materials produced in theEU and exports in excess of 45 billi-on. Forestry and its related industriesemploy more than 3.5 millionEuropeans and contribute more than 200 billion to the EU economy1.

We have come a long way since a 19thcentury Augustinian monk namedGregor Mendel found in plants thatbiological traits were passed on fromone generation to the next by discretefactors. Now known as genes, theyform the basis for the scientific studyof genetics upon which a growing partof modern science, medicine and tech-nology is based. In the half centurysince the double helix structure ofDNA the king of molecules and

building block of genes which trans-mits genetic, or hereditary, informationfrom parents to their offspring wasdiscovered, our understanding of thelife sciences has progressed in leapsand bounds. Scientists have already

painstakingly mapped out the entirehuman genome the billions ofsequences of DNA that constitute thegenetic make up of our bodies.Although the exact functions of manyof these strands is still not known, ourgrowing knowledge of the molecularmechanics of organisms will one dayyield vast health rewards. Genomicsand biotechnology hold great promiseof uncovering effective treatments forhealth problems.

Scientific investigation of the genomehas not been limited to humans, butencompasses many other animal andplant species. Although the focus ofresearch has tended towards humangenomics, investing more in resear-ching plant genomics will pay potenti-ally huge dividends. The EU has longbeen a trailblazer in this area. Europe,for instance, was a key member of theinternational team which mapped outthe first complete plant geneticsequence that of Arabidopsis (agenus of the mustard family). Our

expanding knowledge of the geneticmake up of plants could dramaticallychange our approach to agriculture.Genetics will continue to pave the wayto increasing agricultural yields, lowe-ring our dependence on fertilisers,making crops more resistant to disea-ses, and more. In addition, we are nowaware that we are taking advantage ofonly a small fraction of Natures gene-tic diversity. There are enormousopportunities to use plants much moreeffectively to meet the challenges and

demands facing European society in anenvironmentally friendly and sustaina-ble way. Europe possesses a uniquegeographic and climatic diversity, a tre-mendous wealth of cultivated andundomesticated plant species, and

long-standing plant breeding experien-ce. Europe should build on the excel-lence it has achieved in this area bypromoting new initiatives to make themost of this vital natural resource.Plant-based oils, lubricants, fibres andpolymers which, unlike syntheticplastics, can be broken down quicklyby natural processes could help toslash pollution.

However, Europes research and devel-opment (R&D) efforts have so far beenfragmented and have suffered fromthe lack of a coherent strategic vision.Regional, national and Europeanresearch programmes, as well aspublic-private R&D partnerships, havenot delivered enough successful appli-cations or spin-offs. The EUs ambitionis to build the worlds most competitive knowledge-based economy. Oneimportant outlet for this cutting-edgeknowledge should be what may bereferred to as the bio-based econo-my. Given the importance of the sec-tor, the consequences for Europe of fai-

ling to act could be dramatic. Weurgently need to place the Europeanagricultural, forestry and food indus-tries on more competitive ground founded on a scientifically and ethical-ly sound science and technology base and enhance its ability to underwriteglobal food security and create newbio-based products.

1These figures are for the 15 Member

States of the pre-May 2004 European

Union.

Executive summary



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The future competitiveness of Europesagricultural and food processing indus-tries will depend on plant genomics,biotechnology and their smart applica-tion. These areas are developing rapid-ly around the world, and Europe riskslosing the competitive edge it oncepossessed as the mantle of innovationpasses to the United States.

Investments in plant biotechnology inCanada, Asia, India and SouthAmerica are also accelerating rapidlyas these countries seek to solve theirfood security problems and to capturea bigger share of agricultural trade. Incontrast, Europe's position is decliningas a consequence of the political iner-tia caused by the polarised and increa-singly heated debate between oppo-nents and advocates, with a scepticaland confused public caught in thecrossfire.

If Europe is not to fall behind its majorglobal competitors in this crucial areaof innovation and future prosperity, thelegitimate concerns of both critics andadvocates need to be addressed. Forinstance, risk assessments carried outin recent years have uncovered noadverse health effects from geneticallymodified (GM) crops. We need to takea more holistic approach used aspart of a broader system, modern bio-technology can be a helpful addition toour current agricultural mix, although

their misapplication could potentiallyhave some adverse health and environ-mental effects Europe should proceedresponsibly in developing biotechnolo-gies while minimising any adverseeffects.

The future is, of course, uncertain.Plant genomics and biotechnology isneither a magic wand that will waveaway all our problems nor will it wreakhavoc and disaster. To fully appreciatethe potential benefits and pitfalls, and

to chart a safe course through them,requires a publicly supported roadmap. That is the purpose behind theproposed creation of the Plants for theFuture tapping the potential of planttechnology platform. There willundoubtedly be successes and setbacks, but the potential rewards forour health and prosperity are too great

for us to take a wait and seeapproach.

Visionary platformPlants for the Future will bring togetherall relevant stakeholders: researchers,policy-makers, environmental and con-sumer groups, industry, and farmers.These partners will co-operate in apragmatic, non-dogmatic manner toreach a consensus on commonpriorities and draw up action plans to

implement them.

This will be a challenging task but thepayoff for sharing and acting upon acommon vision could be enormous: acompetitive, independent and sustai-nable bio-based European economythat will address the specific needsand choices of European consumersnot only in terms of agriculture andfood, but through applications in awide range of fields, including plant-based pharmaceuticals, chemicals andenergy.

The aims of this platform would be tosuggest ways of (see chapter four forfull details): Securing a high quality, safe anddiverse food supply for European con-sumers Creating a sustainable Europeanagricultural base for the production offood and feed, as well as other renewa-ble, bio-based products Strengthening the competitiveness ofthe European agri-food sector to

ensure a strong domestic Europeanfood supply and consumer choice

The platform proposes that thesegoals can be reached by: Promoting societal consensus basedon a mutual understanding andcommunications between stakeholders Suggesting a coherent legal frame-

work for the sectors development Boosting public and private R&Dinvestment and enhancing the transpa-rency of European research at regional,national and European level Strengthening industry support forthe platforms research agenda Developing a pertinent strategicresearch agenda based on the iden-tification of the sectors priorities pursuing a multidisciplinary approachcovering such areas as genomics, phy-siology, agronomy, ecology, bioinfor-

matics and other emerging skills.



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Sowing the seeds of modern

civilisationPlants form the basis for almost all lifeon Earth, as living organisms in theirown right or as food for animals. By

catching solar energy, unlike animals,they actually add to the Earths netstore of energy. The unique process ofphotosynthesis which converts atmos-pheric carbon dioxide, the maingreenhouse gas, into carbohydratesvia a solar energy-driven process pro-duces the biomass needed by mostliving organisms.

When people first started cultivatingplants in the Middle East some tenthousand years ago, it profoundly alte-red their way of life. With the birth of

agriculture, humanity moved awayfrom the hand-to-mouth existence ofthe hunter-gatherer and was able tostore food for leaner times. No longerneeding to chase their food, peoplewere able to abandon nomadic life andlive in settled communities, sowing theseed for modern civilisation.

Today, plants are used not only as foodfor humans and feed for cattle, but asindustrial raw materials. They are also valuable sources of vitamins, antioxi-dants, oils, fibres and carbohydrates.They provide the ingredients for mostdrugs and are a major traditional ener-gy resource. The petroleum that keepsmodern society ticking is also of plantorigin, while modern biofuels promiseto reduce the pollution caused by fos-sil fuels.

Rising populations and living stan-dards are not only straining the worldsfood production capacity, they have ledto the increasing use of non-renewableresources and synthetic materials,

such as plastics (a petroleum product).This has meant that more greenhousegases such as carbon dioxide arebeing pumped into the atmosphere,contributing to climate change. It hasalso meant that the world is producing

waste faster than the Earth can breakit down. Environmental concerns andfinite supplies of fossil fuels aremaking biomaterials which can bebroken down easily by natural forces and biofuels attractive alternatives.

Green economicsThe economic importance of plantsand plant-derived products in Europe ishuge in terms of turnover of associatedindustries, employment and trade:

The European seed market, worth 8.4 billion annually, is the largestregional market (30% of the globalmarket) Europe carved out a 28% share ofthe 26.6 billion global agrochemicalmarket in 2003 European forestry and its relatedindustries employ more than 3.5 milli-on people with an annual turnover ofover 200 billion There are nearly 7 million farms,with an average size of 18.4 hectaresand employing nearly 15 million peop-

le, in the 15 older EU Member States(EU15). With enlargement, the num-ber of farms has more than doubled to17 million, and the proportion of far-mers in the workforce has grown fromaround 4% (EU15) to nearly 8%(EU25) Livestock production in Europe con-sumes 400 million tonnes of feed,including grazing land, of which 90%is produced in Europe The EU imports 66.6 billion worthof agricultural products and exports

55.7 billion The European food and drink indus-try is the leading EU industrial sectorwith over 600 billion of productionand 145 billion of added value. With2.6 million workers, it is the Unionsthird largest employer Europe currently accounts for only10% of the fast-growing markets forcrop-derived fibres and raw materials,which increased globally from 50.9 to70 million tonnes over the past fiveyears

Plant genomics and

biotechnologyGenomics and biotechnology are themodern tools for understanding plants

at the various biological and environ-mental levels, as well as boostingclassical plant breeding techniques. Anarray of novel technologies haveemerged that are now permittingresearchers to identify the geneticunderpinnings of crop improvement,namely the genes that contribute tothe improved productivity and qualityof modern crop varieties.

The much-debated genetic modificati-on (GM) of plants is one of the bio-technologies used, depending on thespecific challenges to be addressed,but we should not make thefundamental mistake of equating agri-cultural and plant biotechnology withGM alone. Genetic modification ofplants is not the only technology in thetoolbox of modern plant biotechnolo-gies.

Application of these technologies willsubstantially improve plant breeding,farming and food processing. In parti-cular, the new technologies will enhan-

Chapter 1 : Introduction



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ce our ability to improve crops further and,not only make them more traceable, butalso enable different varieties to exist sideby side (known as crop co-existence) enhancing the consumers freedom tochoose between conventional, organic andGM food. Taking advantage of the geneticdiversity of plants will not only give consu-mers a wider choice of food, but it will also

expand the range of plant-derived products,including novel forms of pharmaceuticals,biodegradable plastics, bio-energy, paper,and more.

Plant genomics and biotechnology couldpotentially transform agriculture into amore knowledge-based business. Thiscould strengthen the sectors sustainabilityand profitability by reducing uncertainty andthe dependence of farmers on variable eco-logical and climatic conditions. Critics fearthat modifying the genetic make up of

some plants could lead to the possibleemergence of such complications as super-weeds or toxic food. Although scientificinvestigation in new fields is never risk-free,with due scientific precaution and diligence,constant and careful monitoring, and strictregulation, adverse developments can beprevented.

A strong European science and industrybase in this important sector will allowEurope to address a number of socio-econo-mic challenges:

Securing a healthy and safe food supplyImproving living standards, particularly indeveloped countries, and a growing worldpopulation are rapidly boosting globaldemand for high quality and safe food.Food shortages and famines are currentlylocalised phenomena and can be addressedby improving the distribution of the worldsfood output. However, as the globes6 billion inhabitants climb to more than9 billion over the next half century, not onlywill this mean there are more mouths tofeed but there will be less arable land with

which to do it. This means that food distri-bution will have to become more equitableand farming will need to become both moreproductive and diversified. In addition, torespond to consumer expectations, the qua-lity of plants has to be improved and theirnutritional value boosted.

Sustainable agriculture

We urgently need to make todays chemi-cal-intensive agriculture more sustainablewhile maintaining its productivity. In fact,we need to increase yields and simultane-ously reduce or optimise the amount offuel, fertilisers, pesticides and water usedup in the process. The dual challenges ofglobal climate changes and increased sea-sonal weather instabilities are placing addi-tional strains on the worlds agriculturalcapacity, particularly as more marginal landis farmed.

Green and pleasant landAgricultural waste can be reduced to a mini-mum through the efficient use of bio-wasteto produce biomaterials and bio-energy. Aswe run down our supplies of fossil fuels andtheir environmental impact grows, we willneed to substitute them with renewableand environmentally friendly fuel sources.In addition, efficient land management willbecome increasingly necessary to ensurediversity of agricultural production, protecti-on of the environment and conservation ofnatural resources and biodiversity.

Competitiveness and consumer choiceA competitive global position for the EU inagriculture, biotechnology and food produc-tion will benefit employment and economicgrowth across the Union. Developing newtechnologies and agricultural products canhelp the environment and have a positiveimpact on rural development. In addition, itwould ensure a strong domestic andsustainable European food supply offeringconsumers a wide choice of healthy anddiverse food.

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A time traveller to 2025 might find

that the bio-based economy that has

emerged has helped to confront some

of the major challenges facing Europe

and humanity as a whole. Below are

some of the features of that future

world.

The seeds of wealth

It is said that money does not grow ontrees, but more of our economicprosperity in 2025 will be based onagricultural produce. Not only will far-mers grow food for a larger population,but much of the economy will also bebased on the raw materials they grow:new foods, biofuels, and biomaterials.They will become the gatekeepers ofthe bio-based economy.

Developing green fingers

The premium on agricultural land andexciting investment prospects in thevaluable raw materials it produces willhelp reinvigorate the farming sectorand provide new opportunities in anenlarged Europe.

Escape to the country

With the attractive careers and invest-ment prospects, farming and its spinoffs will trigger a migration away fromthe cities and back to the countryside.

This new agricultural class will makeup the backbone of a prosperous andlively rural community away from thestress of urban life.

Futuristic diets

It has long been said that you are whatyou eat. Medical research will haveidentified exactly how our diets affecthealth. The knowledge this scientificinsight brings will mean that breedingby design will be used to create novelfood crops which are optimised toreduce the negative side effects of

certain types of food and offer balan-ced nutritional value.

The right reaction

Plant genomics may also have unloc-ked the secrets of how allergic reacti-

ons to plants such as hay fever andfood allergies work, unearthing waysof halting this growing problem.

Consumer connoisseurs

As more wild plants are cultivated andnew food products are created, culina-ry culture will witness an unpreceden-ted renaissance. Consumers will havea bountiful choice of tasty fruit and vegetables with good shelf life. Asenjoying and experimenting with goodfood becomes an important part ofculture, interest in junk food will wane.

Vintage toast

Europeans will need their fine wine toaccompany their tasty diet. By 2025,the European wine industry will be pro-gressively facing up to the challengesposed by climate change and volatileweather patterns. Old world wineswill be in the process of combiningclassic subtleties with consistent taste-filled vintages.

The right chemistry

As we run down our fossil fuel stocksand environmental concerns grow,chemicals and fuels extracted fromplants will become along with otherrenewable resources much moreimportant. By 2025, we will see theemergence of sophisticated greenchemical, biodegradable polymers andbiofuels. These will help Europe meetits emissions obligations, create amore sustainable environment andimprove EU citizens quality of life.

The best medicine

The plant kingdom already offers theraw material for many drugs. By 2025,our understanding of the genetic makeup of a larger pool of plant species willhelp researchers create medicines in

particular, medical treatments tailoredto the specific needs of individualpatients to tackle many of the majordiseases we have to contend withtoday.

Developing capacity

Agriculture in developing countries willbecome more productive, competitiveand sustainable. This will be particu-larly essential in view of the exponenti-al growth in food demand in East Asia.Higher and better yields in these coun-tries, and exports from Europe andNorth America, will be essential tomeeting fast-growing demand inChina.

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Europe has been at the forefront ofplant genomics and biotechnologyR&D. However, its leading position isdeteriorating on the back of publicconcern over the health and environ-mental impact of these new technolo-gies. This controversy threatens theEUs ability to reap the rewards of thisresearch and puts the Union at risk of

falling further behind its main globalcompetitors, mainly the USA andJapan. Europe is in danger of creatinganother European paradox asoccurred with semiconductors andcomputer technologies in which it isunable to capitalise on an excellent sci-ence and technology base by bringinginnovative products to market.

New sciences and emerging technolo-gies always present a challenging arrayof scientific and moral uncertainties.

Neither sceptics nor advocates can beabsolutely certain what the long-termbiological and environmental impact ofgenetic modification will be. However,more than fifteen years of close moni-toring and testing have so far uncover-ed no adverse effects to the environ-ment or human health. Nevertheless,there are many Europeans who remainsceptical of the benefits that geneticmodification can deliver or who, forperceived quality reasons, prefer conventional or organic foods. They havean unquestionable right to have access

to the food they wish to consume. Thismeans that the EU must ensure thatGM, conventional and organic cropscan be grown side by side using abalanced approach that neither pre-vents nor favours any of them.

The ethical dilemmas are harder to pindown and resolve. Questions of howfar we can and should go in reconfigu-ring the natural order some mightcall it tampering with others maydescribe it as exploiting natures

genetic pool are never easy to ans-wer. Opinions on what is and what isnot morally acceptable vary widely andthere are grey areas where few wouldbe willing to offer a hard and fast jud-gement. In fact, EU surveys show thatmany Europeans would support thecautious development of such potenti-ally beneficial fields. Ethical studies

have also emphasised the moralimperative of making these technolo-gies available to the developing coun-tries that want them.

Europeans should not lose sight of theenormous social, economic and envi-ronmental rewards of this cutting-edgefield. With appropriate regulatory andscientific controls in place, the EU candraw maximum benefit out of thesenew technologies while avoiding thepotential environmental and ethical

pitfalls. This can only be achievedthrough a mature and sober publicdebate that weighs up all the pros andcons to help chart an optimal courseforward.

Food for thoughtThe last three decades have seen radi-cal changes to our diet as consumersenjoy an unprecedented variety of highquality, inexpensive local and importedfood all year round. In terms of plantscience, many of these improvements

are based on crop breeding and gene-tics developed in the 1950s to 1970s.As a means of building on this scienti-fic and technological base, both at EUand national level, the EuropeanCommission has funded plant geno-mics and biotechnology R&D undersuccessive research programmes since1982.

Early recognition of the need for invest-ment in crop biotechnology and geno-mics by EU and national funding agen-

cies has led to the establishment ofCentres of Excellence in universitiesand research institutes, and the devel-opment of new platform technologiesand research breakthroughs by theEuropean research community. TheUnion is home to a number of pionee-ring SMEs, such as Plant GeneticsSystems (PGS), and Keygene. Newer

companies such as AgroGene,CropDesign, Meristem, Biogemma,and Metanomics continue this inno-vative tradition, albeit at a slower pacethan in the USA.

European companies such as Bayer,BASF and Syngenta, which are amongthe worlds top six agribusinesses have committed significant funding tostrategic research in crop biotechnolo-gy and genomics. They have also deve-loped, either in house or through colla-

borations, key technologies for particu-lar crops and methodologies. The EUseed sector has major players inclu-ding Limagrain, Advanta, KWS andDLF-Trifolium. Europe hosts two of thetop four global food companies.Unilever and Nestl have strong pro-duct development expertise and expe-rience in a diverse set of crops and pro-ducts. They also have a tradition ofresearch in plant sciences and have fol-lowed the evolution of plant genomicsand biotechnology.

Falling behindEuropean investment in plant geno-mics and biotechnology has stalled inrecent years. This is partly as a resultof a more restrictive political and regu-latory framework compared with thatof its major competitors in the USA,Japan and China. European biotechSMEs are increasingly turning to non-EU customers, while firms of all sizesare relocating their research activitiesand investments to these three coun-

Chapter 2 :Between prosperity and paradox



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tries, and even India and Argentina.These countries have a long-term stra-tegy for exploiting the potential ofplant genomics and strengtheningtheir positions in related markets. TheUSA and Japan, in particular, are deve-loping forward-looking policies to forgefor themselves a leading position inthe emerging biomaterials and bio-

energy markets. Europe risks losingout on its investment in plant geno-mics and biotechnology as the exploi-tation of its science and technologybase will increasingly be done outsidethe EU.The huge potential of plant geneticdiversity can only be unlocked throughsustained investment in research.While US biotech firms spend 650million a year on R&D, their EU coun-terparts invest only 400 million. Lastyear, the American government laun-

ched a National Plant GenomeInitiative with a total budget of 1.1billion from 2003 to 2008. EU15 sup-port is estimated to be around 80million annually. In addition, strictEuropean health and safety regulationshave shifted popular resistance fromhealth concerns to the potential envi-ronmental impact of the release anduse of GM crops. In the meantime,global use of these plants is on therise, with 99.5% grown outside theEU.

What is at stake for Europe?European industry, consumers and far-mers will all be affected by the emer-ging plant genomics and biotechnolo-gy innovation gap between the EU andits main global competitors. As arecent study showed, the impact onEuropes science and technology baseis already considerable: 27% ofEuropean research projects in this areahave been aborted in recent years and,for industry, the figure was a massive

63%. New GM-derived products will beallowed to enter the European marketsoon. Further market development willdepend on whether European retailersand consumers will consider thepotential benefits in terms of price andimproved quality outweigh the hypo-thetical risks. This in turn will affectmore than 15 millions European farms

in 25 Member States and theEuropean food industry, in particularthe large number of SMEs whichaccount for half of the industrys out-put and three-fifths of its workers.

In a scenario where EU agriculturaloutput is less technologically competi-tive, European farmers will likely findthat their shrinking share of conventio-nal and GM markets will not be offsetby the growth of alternative niches,such as the organic food market.

Fierce global price competition mayalso lead to a shift from European pro-ducts to imports that may be lessdiverse. Although imports can be andare beneficial, this may limit the rangeof EU consumer lifestyle and healthchoices. This might lead to pressurefor more EU agricultural subsidies, alt-hough the Union is attempting to scaleback such aid according to its obligati-ons under world trade agreements.

The deterioration of the EUs scientificbase, the loss of markets for European

agricultural products and an increaseddependence on food and feed importsare at stake. Europes ability to res-pond to the policy challenges of sustai-nable agriculture and to secure globalfood supply may diminish. This couldalso severely restrict European indus-trys ability to contribute to non-foodagricultural innovations and a bio-based economy. Twenty years fromnow, European consumers are at risk ofbeing left with the limited choice ofbuying local products at much higher

prices or cheaper imports. Althoughimports are essential to economic effi-ciency, fair competition and consumerchoice, allowing agricultural imports torise above a certain level may leaveEurope vulnerable or, at least, depen-dent on produce in which the incorpo-rated technology reflects very differentcultural, scientific and lifestyle priori-

ties. The question is whether Europewill facilitate the careful developmentof plant genomics and biotechnologywithin the EU to reflect the Unionshigh standards in new product design.

Eliminating a costly paradoxEurope cannot afford to miss out onthe benefits offered by plant genomicsand biotechnology. Justified environ-mental and health concerns have to bebalanced against tolerable risks, likely

economic impacts and employing thenew technology to help respond tomajor social and environmental chal-lenges. A technology platform, such asthe one proposed in this document,can help inform the R&D regulatoryand policy framework process to makethe most of these new technologies forthe prosperity and well being ofEuropes citizens, economy and envi-ronment. This requires concerted acti-on on the part of all stakeholders,including researchers, farmers, indus-try, consumers, regulators and policy-

makers.Open, frank and balanced public dialo-gue on such a sensitive issue will notbe an easy task. But the pay off forsharing and acting upon a common vision can be enormous. Europeansowe it to themselves and future gene-rations to build a scientifically solidand ethically sound foundation fordeveloping this exciting field.



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Food trends and challengesEurope, like other developed countries,is facing the challenges linked to chan-ging lifestyles and an ageing populati-on. Rising living standards and anabundance of food have pushed obesi-ty and heart disease up the list of avoi-dable causes of deaths in the industri-alised world. As Europeans continue toenjoy longer and more comfortablelives, the importance of food qualityand safety will increase enormouslyover the next two decades. Access to awide variety of healthy and affordablehigh quality food will help ensure this.In addition, safe food production is notonly about human health but musttake into account the health of cattleand other animals, as recent food sca-res have so clearly illustrated.

Changing lifestyles

Improvements in medical science andhealth care have meant that people inEurope and other developed countrieslive longer and healthier lives. Theseadvances have also meant that lifesty-le choices are playing an increasinglydecisive role in our well-being. Whilethe burning issue of smoking is beingbrought gradually under control, poordiets are claiming more and more livesin Europe and other rich countries. Theneed to increase the nutritional valueof food products and encourage healt-hy dietary choices is an important

component in reducing heart disease,cancer and obesity, which are beco-ming the biggest causes of avoidabledeaths in developed countries.

Greying societies

Slowing birth rates and longer lifeexpectancy in Europe, Japan and theUnited States have led to a rapidlyageing population if present trendscontinue, there may be more peopleover 60 than children by 2025. Thereis also a fast growing awareness

among the citizens of these samecountries of the health problems asso-ciated with eating habits. In fact, theolder people get, the more important abalanced and healthy diet becomes.The right balance of food can reduce apersons risk of suffering from a heartattack, a stroke, and even cancer. Theagricultural and food industries have a

unique opportunity to contribute tosolving these problems through impro-ving the health promoting properties ofcrops and derivative food products.

Global demographics

There are some 6 billion people in theworld today. Despite declining rates ofpopulation growth, the global popula-tion is increasing by about 80 million ayear equivalent to the population ofGermany and is projected by the UNto reach 9 billion by 2050. Around

95% of this increase is taking place inthe developing world and not inEurope. To be able to feed all theseunborn mouths, new and sustainableways of producing high quality foodand feed must be developed. In additi-on, the world needs to produce morefood but, just as importantly, the inter-national community needs to developthe political mechanisms to guaranteethat it gets to the people who need it.

High economic growth rates in develo-ping countries have significantly raised

living standards there. The most spec-tacular change has occurred inSoutheast Asia and, specifically, inChina. However, societies in Europeand North America are also becomingricher, albeit at a slower pace. Withmore people who are richer and olderto sustain than ever before, thedemand for high quality and variedfood will spiral in the coming years.

Sustainability

a means and an endThere is a limit to how much our pla-net can take. To guarantee our well-being and that of future generations we must make sure that we live in asustainable manner. This means thatsustainability is both a means of ensu-

ring our prosperity and a constant goalto strive for in the future.

Europe must enhance the sustainabili-ty of its agriculture and forestry sec-tors. It also needs to develop plant-based renewable resources to improvethe environmental performance ofindustry and transportation.Biomaterials and bioenergy will along with fuel cells, as well as windand solar power reduce our depen-dence on polluting fossil fuels.

Environmental concernsIn recent decades, European citizenshave become more aware of their envi-ronment and exhibit a growing concernabout the countryside and its biodiver-sity. European citizens are becomingmore vocal in their calls for action toprotect the environment, maintain bio-diversity and conserve natural resour-ces, especially soil and water.

Europe has a diverse countryside, espe-cially when compared with the vast far-ming regions in the Americas wherehundreds even thousands of squa-re kilometres of farmland might begiven over to one crop. Centuries oflocal agricultural, woodland and forestmanagement have led to a great dealof regional variation across Europe.

Over the past two centuries, industria-lisation has led to the growth of largecities where, in many EU MemberStates, the majority of citizens now liveand work. Nevertheless, this has notreduced the importance of rural areas.

Chapter 3 :A vision for 2025



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Competitive research policy

Europes scientific heritage and cultureprovides a unique opportunity for glo-bal economic leadership in the emer-ging knowledge-based economy. TheEUs cultural and scientific diversitywill provide it with a key advantageover its global competitors. Althoughfarming has a quaint and rustic image,agriculture is rapidly turning into oneof the most high-tech sectors of theeconomy. Here, too, Europes diversitygives it a competitive edge.

There is a high degree of regional agro-ecological variety in the EU. There arealso big differences in the economicsof the agricultural sector from thedegree of farming automation to theimportance of local agricultural serviceindustries. This diversity is well reflec-

ted in the great variety of food andfeed used in Member States. This is insharp contrast with the situation insome parts of the United States,Argentina and Brazil where vast tractsof land are used to grow just a fewcrops, particularly maize and soybean.

The long tradition of European innova-tion, coupled with the diverse croptypes and production methodologies,provides Europe with a good opportu-nity to develop a larger number of croptypes that not only perform well across

a wide area of climatic zones, but arealso able to meet special needs on aregional basis.

In order to maintain its prosperity andautonomy, Europe needs to remaincompetitive. Competitiveness is notsimply limited to basic research, butextends across the board: R&D, fieldproduction, and end-product applicati-ons.

Coherent policy frameworkIn order to enhance its competitive-ness, the EU must develop and esta-blish a long-term holistic and coherentpolicy for plant genomics, biotechnolo-gy, and their applications. Through abroad dialogue, it must develop andset in place the necessary policy delive-ry tools that will enable the EU to carryout high quality R&D. The technologyplatform can provide an importantcontribution towards forming such acoherent framework by furnishing rele-vant scientific advice and information.

Regulation is essential as it protectsthe citizens against exploitation andensures a level playing field for busi-nesses. The wrong mix of regulationscan leave innovators bound up in redtape. The right mix and it rolls out thered carpet for them. Although the

regulatory arena in Europe is complex,regulation itself plays a crucial role insupporting basic research and theapplication of knowledge.

If the EU is to participate in and bene-fit from research into plant genomicsand biotechnology (and from the resul-ting products), then regulatory frame-works must be carefully consideredand developed in a cohesive and inclu-sive manner. This also implies bettercommunication with the public, i.e.regarding the results of risk assess-

ments. European regulation must beconsistent in design and operation andbe transparent both to the Europeancitizenry that it is established to bene-fit, and to the research and industrysectors whose activities are being regu-lated.

As an example of the importance ofconsistent and fair implementation ofregulation, the EU now has a compre-hensive framework in place for thesafety assessment and placing on the

market of GM crop plant varieties although co-existence is still an issueof debate. If EU institutions andMember States fail to implement thislegislation consistently and transpa-rently, the present reluctance of boththe public and private sectors to investin biotech R&D will remain and thebroad objectives set out in this paper

will be unattainable.

The right blend of regulations couldlead to massive improvements in ourquality of life and its sustainability.Below is a vision of what new know-ledge generated by European researchcould potentially lead to over the nexttwo decades.



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Research into plant genomics handled

with appropriate caution and public sup-

port can result in major benefits for

Europeans over the coming two decades.Through well-targeted basic research into

plant genomics and its biotechnological

applications, we believe it is possible to:

Improve understanding of plant meta-

bolisms

Basic research can enhance our understan-ding of metabolic pathways in plants andhow these pathways are affected by envi-ronmental conditions. It can also help castlight on photosynthesis, plant architecture,sink-source distribution of energy and other

plant development factors. In addition tofurthering the human quest for knowledge,this improved understanding could potenti-ally pay enormous dividends in terms ofhealth, the environment, and industrialyields.

Secure a healthy, high quality

food/feed supply

This can be achieved by, for example, deve-loping plants containing more essentialmacro and micro-nutrients (carbohydrates,

starch, essential fatty acids, oils, vitamins,amino acids, antioxidants, fibres, etc), andthat result in end products with less naturalcontamination from fungal mycotoxins,anti-nutritional compounds and environ-mental pollutants.

Improve plant yield potential and

security

These two important goals will help ensureglobal food security by ensuring we can pro-duce enough to feed a growing world popu-lation. This can be tackled from two angles:

increasing land productivity and reducingcrop losses caused by disease and volatileweather patterns. Increases in productivity

particularly of marginal land will provi-de a wider range of choices in countrysidemanagement. Research into plant geno-mics can help boost crop yields without theneed for chemical fertilisers and makeplants more resilient to fungal infections,viruses, insects and other blights, as well asabiotic stress and toxic compounds in soil.It can also help improve the harvestability,storability and processability of crops. Thiswill help prevent the massive losses thatoccur during the food/feed processingchain.

Increase the amount of useful plant

matter

This can be achieved by developing plantsthat after harvesting, transportation, sto-rage and processing provide the maxi-mum quantity of desired end products (i.e.metabolites).

Improve countryside biodiversity

This can be done by developing plants thatcan be grown with reduced cultivation,

inputs and end product processing. Thiswould help prevent soil erosion and reducethe use of agricultural inputs, energy andwater.

Improve the genetic diversity of crop

plants

Agriculture has only just scratched thegenetic surface of plants. Research intoplant genomics can help expand the varietyof crops we cultivate. This will give usaccess to new types of food with all thatimplies in terms of taste and nutrition.

Ambitious research agenda

(2005-2025)



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Reduce the environmental impact of

agriculture

This can be done by developing plant varie-ties that need less fertilizer, water and otheragro-chemical inputs while producing thesame high yields.

Enhance crop monitoring

Research into plant genomics can also helpfarmers to monitor their crops more effecti- vely. Better knowledge of the molecularmechanics of plants will enable scientists todevelop tools such as agro-climaticmodels integrating genetic data to fore-cast crop performance and detect problemsearly on. By reducing waste and providingan early warning system, such tools willhelp reduce the impact of agriculture on theenvironment and to improve crop quality.

Improve crop co-existenceTo ensure consumer and farmer choice,GM, conventional and organic crops willneed to exist side by side. This can beachieved in a number of ways, such asapplying appropriate agricultural practicesand cultivating GM plants containing biolo-gical characteristics that reduce gene flow.These include engineering cleistogamy(which prevents plants from pollinating) orcytoplasmic male sterility into specialtycrops so that they retain the purity of theirspecial features without running the risk ofmixing with other plants.

Develop renewable materials

This can be achieved by developing planttypes that can be grown as sources of rene-wable materials. This will help cut down onthe fossil energy used and waste currentlygenerated in producing them. Examplesinclude plants developed to produce biopo-lymers, such as biodegradable plastics.

Develop more efficient biofuels

This ambitious goal can be reached byincreasing the variety of plants thatcontribute to the renewable resource base,improving the conversion process for plantsthat are currently used as biofuels, anddeveloping new plant types that produceoils which can be used efficiently as anenergy source and could also be used in

food packaging. INRA



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SteeringCommittee

& Secretariat

AdvisoryCouncil

Workshop,resulting papers

and activities

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Expe

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

As this document has highlighted, thepotential of plant genomics and biotechno-logy to deliver major advances in our l ifesty-les and prosperity is enormous. It can alsomaintain and enhance the competitivenessof EU farmers and food producers. In order

for this bright future to materialise, the EUand its Member States need to take actionnow. Towards this end, we recommend thecreation of a new technology platform totake the first steps towards building a con-sensus on the way forward. It will also helpto set and coordinate the EU research agen-da in the field. To get the ball rolling, wepropose that the Plants for the Futureplatform be constructed on the followingbasis.

Strategic priorities

Europes main short, medium and long-term plant genomics and biotechnologicalresearch objectives, as laid out in this docu-ment could constitute part of Plants for theFutures priorities the others to be set indebates with the various stakeholders. Theplatform should focus on improving thesafe exploitation of the genetic diversity inplants to: Produce better quality, healthy, afforda-ble, diverse food offering consumers in andbeyond Europe real options to improve theirquality of life. Bring about environmental and agricultu-

ral sustainability, including biomaterials,bioenergy and renewable resources Enhance the competitiveness of Europeanagriculture, industry and forestry

Main activitiesTo meet its strategic priorities, Plants forthe Future should focus on:Developing and implementing a pertinentlong-term research agenda based on theidentification of the priorities of the sectorand of European citizens. We estimate thatpublic and private funding at EU, national

and regional level will have to exceed 45 billion over the next ten years ifEurope is to remain competitiveEnhancing the transparency of the R&Deffort at the regional, national andEuropean levels

Promoting a coherent policy and supportiveregulatory environmentAddressing public concerns and developingsocietal consensus based on a mutualunderstanding among all stakeholders.

Management structureThe Plants for the Future technology plat-form will be managed by the AdvisoryCouncil, which will be set up to turn thecurrent patchwork of plant genomics andbiotechnological research into a coordina-ted, well-supported research network. To do

so, it will define the contents of theStrategic Research Agenda and attract thenecessary funding to implement it.The Advisory Council should actively linkthe platform with all stakeholders, poolingideas and fostering support for it. TheAdvisory Council must, therefore, be abroad representation of all the parties whichhave a stake in this crucial sector, includingscientists, industry, consumerand farmers groups, envi-ronmental organisati-ons, regulatorybodies, as well as

political decisi-on- and policy-makers at theEU, nationaland regionallevels. Thesepartners need toco-operate prag-matically to identi-fy priorities.

Chapter 4: The way forward



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The Plants for the Future platformshould promote basic research in the fieldof plant genomics and biotechnology. Itshould focus on EU-grown crops, developapplied research programmes in the agro-food domain, and launch novel product-oriented R&D projects. We recommend thefollowing research milestones on the roadmap to improving the sector.

Short and medium-term (to 2015)

Establish coherent basic plant genomicsresearch programmes for the major EU-grown crops: cereals, grain legumes, sola-naceous species, major oil producingplants, and fruit and wood-producing trees Develop research programmes aimed atexploiting the knowledge from plant geno-mics and biotechnology to improve the sus-tainability of production, co-existence, yield,harvestability, storability and processability

of the major EU-grown crops Develop research programmes focused onthe nutritional contents of food and feedcrops Establish public/private partnerships toexplore the development of novel agricultu-ral, food, energy and biomaterials products

In the medium and long-term (to 2025)

Develop a comprehensive genomicsknowledge base for all economically andstrategically important crops grown in theEU and their related genetic resources

Develop enhanced phenotyping tools formining the genetic diversity of important EUcrops Establish public/private partnerships todevelop superior crop varieties which meetthe requirements for sustainable productionin an environmentally friendly manner,while satisfying consumer preference forhealthy and safe food Establish collaborative programmes withdeveloping countries on crop genomics topromote self-sufficiency, greater sustainabi-lity and competitiveness there

The Plants for the Future platforms goalshould be to involve all stakeholders in theaccompanying activities and, in particular,to translate the strategic priorities definedabove into a coherent and dynamic researchagenda. The Advisory Council will be mana-ged in a way that will encourage initiativesin a bottom-up and realistic way. We plan tocreate the Advisory Council by mid-2004

which will then formulate a strategic agen-da by early-2005.

Plants for the Future should make use ofavailable EU instruments, and promote thenetworking and coordination of nationalprograms as exemplified by the ERA-NETinitiative. For the first time, this ERA-PG (forplant genomics) brings together researchprogramme-makers and managers fromacross Europe to improve the coordinationof national and regional plant genomicsresearch programmes. It will also identify

and support actions of specific importanceat the regional level and complement theseactivities with private-public partnerships.

To be successful in the long-term, this ini-tiative needs to be transparent and forge areasonable consensus at the level of theAdvisory Council. It should include the criti-cal evaluation of novel developments,regardless of whether they are positive orappear questionable. It will also be crucialto create the legal framework necessary toexploit the results of the research program-me. This platform will help Europe reap the

rewards of an invigorated agro-industry sec-tor delivering a large diversity of safe andhealthy food and bio-products.

Road map and milestones

INRA



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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Agri-food sector: the sector of the economy that produces agriculturaland food products

Agribusiness: agriculture-related industriesAgro-food industry: agriculture and food related industriesBio-based economy: the sector of the economy that produces products derived

from living organisms

Biofuels: fuels derived from living organisms, as opposed to fossil fuelsBiomaterials: materials derived from living organisms, as opposed

to synthetic materialsBiotechnology: technologies for cultivating, modifying or deriving products

from living organismsCo-existence: the cultivating of conventional, organic and genetically modified crops

in the same area without them affecting one anotherGenetics: science and technology of hereditary factorsGenetic modification: scientific technique for altering the genetic make up of living

organisms which results in genetically modified organisms (GMOs)Forestry: the cultivation of trees and the management of forests and woodland.

Related sectors include paper and pulp industry.Plant genomics: the science and technology of the genetic make up of plants

Annex: Selected glossary

The Genval Group which was set up by the European Association for Bioindustries(EuropaBio) and the European Plant Science Organisation (EPSO), in co-operation with theCommission in 2003 to draft this document is made up of:

[email protected] www.epsoweb.org

Simon Barber (EuropaBio)

Indridi Benediktsson (European

Commission)

Simon Bright (Syngenta, UK)

Michel Caboche (INRA, FR)

Bernard Convent (Bayer, BE)Dick Flavell (Ceres, US)

Hans Kast (BASF, DE)

Beate Kettlitz (BEUC)

Waldemar Ktt (European Commission)

Markwart Kunz (Sdzucker, DE)

Chris Lamb (JIC, UK)

Etienne Magnien (European Commission)

Karin Metzlaff(EPSO)

Jim Murray (BEUC)

Christian Patermann (European

Commission)

Vincent Ptiard (Nestle, FR/CIAA)

Christophe Roturier (ARVALIS, FR)Joachim Schiemann (Federal Biological

Research Centre, DE)

Ralf-Michael Schmidt (BASF)

Lothar Willmitzer (MPIMP, DE)

Frank Wolter (ESA, DE)

Marc Zabeau (VIB, BE)

Genval Group



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European Commission

EUR 21359 Plants for the Future - 2025 a European vision for plant genomics and biotechnology

Luxembourg: Office for Official Publications of the European Communities

2004 23 pp. 21.0 x 29.7 cm

ISBN 92-894-8455-1



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