1. Plant Science : a field of opportunities for Europe that needs urgent attention This potential is recognized world-wide but still disputed in Europe - Strong visionary funding and research partnerships outside Europe - Movement of industrial investments to the US and Asia - Disenchantment of young talented researchers

2. Plant Science : a field of opportunities for Europe that needs urgent attention 3 Initiatives address this and will interact: European Council, Commission, all stakeholders Plant Genomics and BioTechnology Platform European Academies Crop Plant Genomics Report European Plant Scientists Long Term Vision for European Plant Science

3. European Plant Scientists Brainstorm Meeting “Long-Term Vision for European Plant Science” February 11 and 12, 2004 Gent, Belgium Initiated by EPSO Plant Science : a field of opportunities for Europe that needs urgent attention

4. Brainstorm Meeting “Long-Term Vision for European Plant Science” Jon Agren (Sweden) Maarten Koornneef (Netherlands) Michel Caboche (France) Karin Metzlaff (EPSO) Bill Davies (UK) Chris Pollock (UK) Denes Dudits (Hungary) Pere Puigdomenech (Spain) Wilhelm Gruissem (Switzerland) Francesco Salamini (Italy) Dirk Inze (Belgium) Goran Sandberg (Sweden) Jonathan Jones (UK) Mark Stitt (Germany) Heads of major Research Institutes, University Departments, Organisations Representing all major areas of Plant Science

5. Plants are of vital importance for life on earth - Food and feed - Numerous plant derived products (wood, cotton, fibers, oils, starch,…) - Pharmaceuticals - Oxygen - Basis of all biodiversity - Recreation - …  6 Recommendations Brainstorm Meeting “Long-Term Vision for European Plant Science”

6. High yield with minimum impact on environment  Precision Agriculture  Sustainability  Maintain Biodiversity 1. Agriculture in concert with environment Brainstorm Meeting “Long-Term Vision for European Plant Science”

7. Understanding the relationship between food and human health: Preventing diseases by healthier food  Combating pathogens using less pesticides  More vitamins, unsaturated fatty acids, …  Less allergens 2. Healthy food Brainstorm Meeting “Long-Term Vision for European Plant Science”

8. Plants as producers of  Novel chemicals  Pharmaceuticals  Energy and biofuels  Biodegradable plastics, … 3. Building a sustainable world Brainstorm Meeting “Long-Term Vision for European Plant Science”

9.  Selection for yield stability  Monitoring biodiversity and the impact of climate changes  Preserving biodiversity 4. Climate changes and impact on our agriculture and ecosystems Brainstorm Meeting “Long-Term Vision for European Plant Science”

10.  Understanding the domestication process  Generating novel crops: a major resource for Europe’s future 5. Novel crops Brainstorm Meeting “Long-Term Vision for European Plant Science”

11.  Transfer of know how  Helping to solve major agricultural problems 6. Helping developing countries Brainstorm Meeting “Long-Term Vision for European Plant Science”

12. Plant Science : a field of opportunities for Europe that needs urgent attention Investing in Plants is Investing in the Future