The Science Advisory Council of the European Academies (EASAC) published on 24 May a report on genomics and crop plant science in Europe. The report concludes that the successful application of new tools and methods in plant genetics to conventional farming is being held back in the European Union by the lack of a coherent research strategy and the impact of legislation. The report identifies a number of ways in which plant genetics could improve agricultural methods other than through genetic modification, and calls for spending levels on research in the European Union to match those in North America. It also recommends that Member States give more help to the development of plant genetics in developing countries.

SUMMARY

EASAC launched this study on crop plant sciences in 2003 to highlight the contribution of genomics research
to conventional plant breeding of food and non-food crops. Genomics research has the potential to open up
new applications in both conventional agriculture and GMO-based agriculture. The promotion of a range of
innovative approaches to plant breeding is fundamental to European needs for enhancing agricultural productivity
and sustainability and for food security, diet and health, environmental safety and novel crops. In this report we
concentrate on the issues arising from genomics research for conventional agriculture and plant breeding rather
than for the genetic modification of plants through manipulation of individual genes, which is a separate
issue that has already been widely discussed both in the scientific literature and elsewhere.

Advances in plant genomics research have opened a new era in plant breeding where the linkage of genes to traits inspires more efficient and predictable breeding approaches. European agriculture will take advantage of
these new opportunities only if a coherent EU science and innovation strategy is developed to integrate currently
fragmented research efforts, to tackle barriers to progress, to focus on reduction to practice, and to allow technology and information to be presented to plant breeders in a suitably practicable form.

The emerging research opportunities, coupled with societal and market demand, bring into range important
new objectives for:

• improved plant breeding for diversified and healthy crops, and enhanced nutritive levels of food;

• sustainable systems, characterised by high yielding, high quality, low input agriculture, and preparing for climate change;

• new green industries dedicated to land remediation and reclamation, and to the production of renewable energy sources and chemical feed stocks, biomaterials, bioreactors;

• the establishment of partnership with developing countries.

In order to strengthen EU capabilities to attain these objectives, genomics research is required across a broad
front:

• setting up high throughput technology platforms for genome sequencing, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, informatics, including procedures integrating functional genomics with cell biology;

• definition of target genes associated with plant processes and traits, and concerning growth, development, reproduction, photosynthesis, responses to environmental conditions and pathogens, and formation of specialised structures;

• characterisation of biodiversity, including its measure and application to search for new biologically active
  compounds of plant origin.

While these priorities may be equally recognised by other countries (particularly in North America and Asia), the EU must be actively involved in order to serve local needs in plant breeding and also to remain globally competitive. Several genomics research initiatives are currently running in EU Member States. Nevertheless, there is a pressing need for better, shared, awareness of the ongoing activities in order to identify the possibilities for improved coordination; joint, multidisciplinary, programmes; funding of gaps; and avoidance of unhelpful duplication.

There must also be resolution of the inadvertent constraints on research activities and the application of
the results, occasioned by other EU legislation (for example energy, chemicals, and recycling policies).
Furthermore, promoting cohesion in public funding for the priorities of plant science, and the linkage to plant
breeding, must be accompanied by attention to the generic elements that underpin efforts in research and
innovation: building public trust, education and training, protection of intellectual property, promoting publicprivate partnership and the retention of R&D-intensive companies within the EU.

MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS

1 A major opportunity exists for EU policy-makers, across the Commission, Parliament and Council of
Ministers, to capitalise on the new era in plant genomics research by developing a coordinated strategy for identifying and resourcing multidisciplinary research priorities in crop biology and crop improvement. There are two major goals for the reduction to practice: from genomics research on model plants to crops; and from crop science to crop breeding.

2 We strongly recommend that a coherent European Commission research strategy be developed that
integrates and balances the work carried out on enabling technologies, process-oriented goals (such as genome sequencing, construction of marker libraries) and problem-oriented goals (identification of genes related to particular functions and traits). DG Research should also outline a longer-term research strategy and set a benchmark for EU investment by comparison with projected North American spending on plant science. The coordinated research agenda in support of European innovation and competitiveness will need to be supported by
increased recognition of the importance of maintaining repositories of seeds, cultivars and varieties. We support calls for the establishment of a network of European and international Banks preserving cultivars and varieties of wild relatives.

3 We also strongly recommend that in addition to research dedicated to food crop breeding, a renewed
effort to develop a coordinated policy in support of new green industries, based on transnational research and considering activities dedicated to remediation, renewable energy and natural product biosynthesis, be implemented. This strategic coherence will require the active involvement of several Directorates-General in addition to DG Research, eg Agriculture, Enterprise, Environment, Health and Consumer Protection.

4 We welcome and encourage the ERANet Plant Genomics (ERA-PG) Project goals of clarifying current individual national efforts and developing impetus for connectivity. Accelerating ERA-PG progress will require both DG Research and Member State commitment to identify and resolve impediments to coordination such as national differences in publicprivate sector relationships – as well as the means to build critical mass.

5 We also welcome the Plant Genomics Technology Platform and urge the European Commission together with the Council of Ministers to ensure that this is fully supported by stakeholders – to confirm priorities for social needs, and to develop options for facing key challenges such as consumer engagement and science-based regulation, as well as exploring research opportunities.

6 In consequence of ERA-PG and the Technology Platform, the Commission, led by DG Research, must
now rapidly define priorities and resources for plant science in Framework Programmes 6 and 7, including
options for training, involvement of the private sector and EU-international collaborations. More broadly, it is also timely to consider the basic research opportunities in plant science within the context of current developments on the European Research Area and European Research Council.

7 In making the case for new research investments, it is important for all funders and researchers to consider
relative cost-benefit issues and whether current resources are appropriately structured – for example with respect to an appropriate balance between efforts in research institutions and university departments, and for the revival of public plant breeding activities.

8 In addition to identifying research priorities for new agriculture systems in the expanded EU, it will be important for both the Commission and Parliament to consider the potential for technology partnerships with developing countries, where they contribute to the achievement of EU objectives. Identification of how the EU can support skills and training as part of capacity building worldwide is particularly relevant.

9 It is essential to understand the potential for EU policy development in, for example, energy, chemicals and
recycling, to have the unintended consequence of restricting research opportunities and their application (food and non-food crops). This is, again, an issue for multiple DGs and Parliament. These broader concerns must be incorporated within the ongoing work of the Technology Platform.

The complete report in PDF format is at http://www.easac.org/CPG%20report_fin5.pdf