1. Shifting trends and fortunes in european crop plant genomics since the 1980’s By Steve Hughes ESRC Genomics Network

3. 1970s Phase 1 Exploration/scoping Plant genome analysis – molecular tools Plant gene isolation- storage proteins; Rubisco Patents on core enabling rDNA technology Contained use regulation Mainly public sector institutions PBI Beginnings of private sector involvement

4. 1980s phase2 Exploration/Opportunism Suspension of genomic thinking Plant gene isolation – products; agronomy Plant gene transfer Atumefaciens (GMplant) Herbicide/insect tolerance- category GMcrop Antisense control – gene silencing –resurgence of genomic thinking Extensified private sector, GIBiP Explosion of patenting – enabling&applications Deliberate release ; field trials PROSAMO study

5. Phase3 1990s Opportunism Commercial trials: herbicide, insect resistance Test markets: imported tomato; soya, cotton Organised reaction: articulated uncertainty Company consolidation Consensus conference Trait discovery Marker-assisted breeding: rflp, aflp,rapd microsatellite

7. 1990s Opportunism 2 TRIPS, patents PVR EU 92/20 ACRE Food use ACNFP EU commercial moratorium Ethical review - Nuffield CB Commercial moratorium ( exception spanish maize)

9. 2000s Reflection, distributed cognition Plant/crop genome sequences: rice, network – v-patenting Marker-assisted breeding; tilling; Generation Challenge GDR-P Prospectus for agriculture and silvaculture – recognition of disconnections: EASAC; EPSO; ERA- PG; BBSRC Producer-consumer relations - food Non-food uses: biofuel, feedstocks Opposition shift Environmental impact: Farm Scale trials

10. 2000s Reflection, distributed cognition Continued commercial moratorium – heterogeneous national views – legal decisions on local derogations Trade dispute EU-USA at WTO Plants for the Future initiative A new wave?

11. EPSO technology platform: Plants for the Future Strategic Research Agenda – reconnect with EU prospectus to 2025 Public-private partnerships Stakeholder network – sustainable systems approach/consultation Keywords: healthy, safe, landscape, green products, competitiveness, consumer- choice, governance. Connectivity knowledge-sharing

12. Apomixis: a study of the distributed networked global production system

13. Useful sites Hughes,S : Plant Biotechnology Journal (2006) 4, 3-5 European Academies Science Advisory Council : Genomics and Crop plant science published 24th May 2004 at http://www.easac.org/CPG%20report_fin5.pdf http://www.epsoweb.org/Catalog/TP/EPSO%20pressrele ase%20web_22Jun04.htm http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/news/reports/Welcome.html.http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/news/reports/Welcome.html http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/press/2004/pr3001- 2en.html http://www.defra.gov.uk/science/rpg/research_priorities.h tm http://www.tailoringbiotechnologies.com/