The European Technology Platform “Plants for the Future” Karin Metzlaff Executive director EPSO & Coordinator ETP e

1. The European Technology Platform “Plants for the Future” Karin Metzlaff Executive director EPSO & Coordinator ETP www.epsoweb.org Member State Consultation, Vienna, Austria 24 June 2005

2. European Technology Platforms Concept • Novel instrument of the ERA policy in areas of high technological potential to • Strengthen European research and innovation and ensure European competitiveness • Articulate coherent long term research policies representing a consensus between all stakeholders (scientists, industry, policy makers, society) • Mobilise a critical mass of European, national and regional resources comprising public and private funding • Goals: • Vision document • Strategic Research Agenda • Implementation Plan (consultations to implement the SRA)

3. European Technology Platforms Why for plants? • Plant Research, including genomics and biotechnology holds tremendous potential for • Agriculture and Agro-food industry • Among the three largest economies in Europe • Society and consumers • Novel healthy foods • Safeguard the environment • However, plant biotechnology is perceived as controversial by European society • Public debate hampered constructive policymaking • Negative impacted development of the technology in EU • Therefore a balanced and broad approach • Plants for the Future

4. European Technology Platforms “Plants for the Future” EuropaBio • Platform created in 2003: joint initiative of the key stakeholders • Academia – EPSO European Plant Science Organization • Industry – EuropaBio Biotech Industry association • Farmers – COPA COGECA European Farmers Assoc. • With the active participation of other stakeholders • Consumer and environmental organizations • Public authorities • Vision document “Plants for the Future” • Long term vision for the contribution of plants to Europe’s agriculture, forestry, Agro-food Industry and society • Launched by Commissioner Busquin in June 2004 • Stakeholder proposal for a Strategic Research Agenda • Launch in July, followed by a Member State consultation

5. ETP Plants for the Future Vision document • Developed by a group of • representatives from • the different stakeholders: • Industry – Agro and food • Academia • Farmers organizations • Consumer organizations • Experts in regulatory, financial issues • “Plants for the future” presents • Long term vision for the contribution of • plants to Europe’s agriculture, forestry, • Agro-food Industry and society

6. ETP Plants for the Future Vision document • 4 Challenges: • Securing a healthy and safe food and feed supply • Increased demand for more nutritionally healthy and more diverse high quality foods (and feed) • Develop sustainable agricultural production, while preserving the landscape • Agricultural production must become economically and environmentally sustainable • Develop new products for the bio-based industry • Plant derived renewable feedstocks and fuels • Specialty and pharmaceutical products • Ensuring Europe’s competitiveness and consumer choice

7. ETP Plants for the Future Developing the Strategic Research Agenda • Objective • Articulate short and long term research priorities • needed to achieve the objectives of the Vision 2025 • Approach • 4 workshops in fall 2004 • Research goals within each of the challenges • - Deliverables, work-packages and timetables • Each workshop: broad stakeholder representation • Industry (Agro and food), academia, farmers, • consumer and environmental organizations, • financial community, regulatory authorities, • experts in education and communication

8. ETP Plants for the Future Developing the Strategic Research Agenda Input from Austria so far: Thomas Geburek (Inst f. Genetics, Vienna): forestry research input SRA; Draft sent to: Josef Glössl (BOKU Vienna), Heribert Hirt (Univ Vienna), Petra Lehner (AU Fed. Chamber of Labour, Consumer Pol.), Harald Mauser (Fed. Office & Res. centre Forests), Armin Spoek (Inter-Univ. Res. Centre for Technology, Works & Culture); Workshop: Dietmar Gruell, Suedzucker, DE

9. Develop SRA 2025: Strategic Research Agenda Basic research Sustainability Healthy, safe and sufficient food and feed Sustainable agriculture and landscape Competitiveness, consumer choice and good governance Products Green products Horizontal issues Vision ”Plants for the Future” Challenges taken from”Plants for the Future” (chapter 1) 4 Views to address the challenges.

10. Drafting the Stakeholder proposal for a Strategic Research Agenda Stakeholder proposal – draft agenda • Consolidated output of the four workshops • Two parts • Part I: Summary of the strategic plan (20 p.) • Document for policy makers • Part II: Detailed research agenda • Document for technical experts • Research strategy • Long term strategy : Strategic Research Agenda 2025 • Short term strategy : Draft Action Plan 2010

11. Drafting the Stakeholder proposal for a Strategic Research Agenda Four challenges • Healthy, safe and sufficient food supply • Sustainable agriculture, forestry and landscape • Green products • Competitiveness, consumer choice and good governance

12. Drafting the Stakeholder proposal for a Strategic Research Agenda Challenge 1: Healthy, safe and sufficient food supply • Goals: • Production of safe, high quality, sufficient and sustainable food(storage compounds; nutritional, sensory & processing char; less deleterious to quality) • Foods for specific consumer groups and needs • (carotenoids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, allergenicity, cancer prevention) • Production of safe, high quality, • sufficient and sustainable feed • (less mycotoxins & heavy metals; • optimise macro-& mironutrient conc & • digestability)

13. Drafting the Stakeholder proposal for a Strategic Research Agenda Challenge 2: Sustainable agriculture, forestry and landscape • Goals: • Securing sustainability of agriculture by improving plants productivity and quality potential • (yield stability, tolerance to non-biotic factors) • Reduce and optimize the environmental impact of agriculture • (better use of water / crop protect. agents – less needed) • Enhance biodiversity • (use natural diversity for crops, • domesticate new species) • Viable and pleasant landscape • (ornamentals, landscape management)

14. Drafting the Stakeholder proposal for a Strategic Research Agenda Challenge 3: Green Products • Goals: • Renewable resources / renewable raw material, incl. biofuel / energy • (novel functions; cheaper conversion to bioethanol / chemicals; novel oils for fules etc; replacement feedstocks) • Development of novel specialty products from plant production platforms • (plant medicinals; protein/peptide • based pharmac & diagnostics; • diagnostics for env hazard monitor / • remediate pollutants)

15. Drafting the Stakeholder proposal for a Strategic Research Agenda Challenge 4: Competitiveness, consumer choice and good governance • Goals: • Vibrant Basic Research • (genome sequences & biodiv inventory; PSB; genomics tools; genetic systems for crop improvement) • Human Resources, infrastructure and networking • (virtual institute plant science) • Public / consumer involvement • (knowledge, trust, fun) • Ethics, Safety, legal and • financial environment • (choice; co-existence; supportive environment)

16. Launch the Stakeholder proposal for a Strategic Research Agenda Press Conference in Strasbourg, 5th July 2005 • Agenda • Introduction: Hans Kast (BASF, EuropaBio) • Speeches: • Janez Potočnik (European Commissioner Research) • Giles Chichester (Chair Eur. Parliament ITRE Committee) • Pierre Pagesse (Presidium Member of COGECA) • Moderate discussion: Marc Zabeau (VIB, EPSO) • Invited • Stakeholders, MS representatives - Austria, MEPs, EC representatives, journalists • Web broadcast

17. Articulate SRA 2025 and Action Plan 2010 √ Vision 2025, Jun’04 (+ related papers) Implement AP 2010 Opportunity for input from Member States 4 Expert workshops  drafts; Feedback from stakeholders, Steering Committee Stakeholders Proposal for a SRA 2025 + Draft AP 2010 (Jun’05) In parallelinput to: Meetings in ~20 Member States Feedback to working groups (Dec’05) FP7, National researchprograms; industry, farmer, … Workshops to amend draft SRA 2025 +AP 2010 (Oct’06)

18. Consultation onthe Stakeholder proposal for a Strategic Research Agenda With • Member States at national and regional level • Member State Mirror Group • European Parliament Mirror Group • European Commission Mirror Group • Stakeholder groups at European level • e.g. scientists (paper in J Experimental Botany, Jul’05)

19. Consultation onthe Stakeholder proposal for a Strategic Research Agenda Member State consultations • Objective • Broader input for the final research agenda • Support for the implementation of the research agenda • Approach • Presentations to 22 nations in 19 countries from Jun- Nov’05: AU, BE, BU, CZ (+SK), DK, EE, FI (+NO, SE), • FR, DE, GR, HU, IE, IT, NL, PL, PT, ES, CH, UK • Meetings, discussions, online fora • Feed back to ETP in Dec’05 • Strategic Research Agenda 2025 and Action Plan 2010 • October 2006

20. Consultation onthe Stakeholder proposal for a Strategic Research Agenda Member State consultations • Feed back to the ETP • Contribute to a broad and balanced European view • Contribute to the development of the sector • Solicited comments on the stakeholder proposal • General view on the SRA (Part I) • Specific comments to part II • Comments on goals, deliverables, work-packages • Specific national priorities • Response should include • Support for the implementation at EU and national level • Related ongoing or planned activities in each country • Overview of the stakeholders consulted

21. Implementation plan for the Strategic Research Agenda SRA serves to provide input for • Future EC Framework Programs (e.g. FP7) • Close consultation with EC, MSs, EP representatives • (e.g. more appropriate budget for the theme “Biotechnology, agriculture and food” in FP7) • Future national research programs • Providing opportunities to better align and coordinate national programs • Novel public/private research partnerships • Exploring areas of strategic importance in which ambitious initiatives can be taken

22. ETP Plants for the Future Organizational Structure • Advisory Council • Advise the ETP from a broader perspective • Political support for activities & recommendations of the ETP • Steering Council (HK, MZ, JCG) • Ensure all ETP activities contribute to the long-term goals • Support activities & recommendations of the ETP among stakeholders • Mirror groups (CP, GC) • Connect the ETP to the 3 political institutions at European level (Council, Parliament, Commission) • Ensure support for implementation of ETP recommendations at the European, national & regional levels • Secretariat (KM, SB) • Coordinate & manage; balance, interact, disseminate

23. ETP Plants for the Future Conclusions • The creation of the ETP “Plants for the future” contributes to • Active participation of scientists, companies and farmers in policy making • - Milestone for the plant science research community • More positive long term outlook for plant science in Europe • - Recreate positive research environment for young scientists • - Ensure adequate research funding • Europe to regain competitiveness in research, industry, agriculture and forestry despite “the difficult past” • Sustainable use and management of resources and a sustainable environment

24. Plant Science : a field of opportunities for Europe that needs urgent attention Investing in plants is investing in the future For input & information: www.epsoweb.org PlantTP@psb.ugent.be

26. European Technology Platforms What are ETPs? • Novel instrument of the ERA policy in areas of high technological potential to • Strengthen European research and innovation and ensure European competitiveness • Articulate coherent long term research policies representing a consensus between all stakeholders • Scientists, industry, policy makers and society • Mobilise a critical mass of European, national and regional resources comprising both • public and private financing

27. European Technology Platforms Goals • Vision document • Long term (20-25 year) vision of a technology area and its applications within a broader socio- economic context • Strategic Research Agenda • Long term research objectives needed to meet the goals formulated in the Vision Document • Key areas of research and milestones that must be reached • Implementation Plan • Consultation with EC, the Member States and the E Parliament to implement the SRA in the respective Research Programs

28. European Technology Platforms Start & Examples • In March 2003, the European Council • strongly recommended the creation of Technology Platforms in key strategic areas… e.g. plant genomics • A range of European Technology Platforms have been and are being set up (totaling over 25) • - Aeronautics, road, rail and maritime transport • - Hydrogen fuels, Nanoelectronics, Photovoltaics • Plant genomics & Biotechnology, Forestry, • Sustainable Chemistry (white biotechnology), Global Livestock…

29. European Technology Platforms “Plants for the Future” • Stakeholders • Any ETP • Companies • Research institutions • Financial world • Regulatory authorities • Plants for the Future: • + • Farmers • experts in education and communication • consumer and environmental organisations

30. Drafting the Stakeholder proposal for a Strategic Research Agenda Challenge 1: Healthy, safe and sufficient food supply • Goals: • 1. Production of safe, high quality, sufficient and sustainable food • Deliverables: Plant raw materials with • improved composition in major storage compounds • improved characteristics for nutritionally enhanced food • less factors deleterious to food quality • increased sensory characteristics • processing characteristics for food manufacture • 2. Foods for specific consumer groups and needs • 3. Production of safe, high quality, sufficient and sustainable feed

31. Drafting the Stakeholder proposal for a Strategic Research Agenda Challenge 1: Healthy, safe and sufficient food supply • Goals: • 1. Production of safe, high quality, sufficient and sustainable food • 2. Foods for specific consumer groups and needs • Deliverable:Plant raw materials for healthier / functional foods • lower glycemic index • enriched in carotenoids and polyunsaturated fatty acids • reduced allergenicity / improved tolerance • Food for cancer prevention • 3. Production of safe, high quality, sufficient and sustainable feed

32. Drafting the Stakeholder proposal for a Strategic Research Agenda Challenge 1: Healthy, safe and sufficient food supply • Goals: • 1. Production of safe, high quality, sufficient and sustainable food • 2. Foods for specific consumer groups and needs • 3.Production of safe, high quality, sufficient and sustainable feed • Deliverables: • Safe feed with reduced mycotoxins, anti-nutritional factors, heavy metals, xenobiotics • Quality feed for quality food: • optimised macronutrients and micronutrients concentrations • improved palatability/digestibility

33. Drafting the Stakeholder proposal for a Strategic Research Agenda Challenge 2: Sustainable agriculture, forestry and landscape • Goals: • 1. Securing sustainability of agriculture by improving plants productivity and quality potential • Deliverables: • Identification of key drivers of plant yield productivity and stability • Improved plant tolerance to non-biotic factors • 2. Reduce and optimize the environmental impact of agriculture • 3. Enhance biodiversity • 4. Viable and pleasant landscape

34. Drafting the Stakeholder proposal for a Strategic Research Agenda Challenge 2: Sustainable agriculture, forestry and landscape • Goals: • 1. Securing sustainability of agriculture by improving plants productivity and quality potential • 2. Reduce and optimize the environmental impact of agriculture • Deliverables: • Less-impacting methods of crop protection • Improved tolerance & resistance to pathogens & other biotic factors • Improved interaction of beneficial biotic factors • Reduced utilisation of water resources and fertilisers • Reduced environmental impact of feed • 3. Enhance biodiversity 4. Viable and pleasant landscape

35. Drafting the Stakeholder proposal for a Strategic Research Agenda Challenge 2: Sustainable agriculture, forestry and landscape • Goals: • 1. Securing sustainability of agriculture by improving plants productivity and quality potential • 2. Reduce and optimize the environmental impact of agriculture • 3. Enhance biodiversity • Deliverables: • Characterization and maintenance biodiversity in the field • Characterization of pathogen and pest biodiversity • Characterization of the biodiversity of plant genetic resources in agriculture and forestry • Improved crop biodiversity with variation from wild relatives • Domesticate new crops and trees for plantation forestry • 4. Viable and pleasant landscape

36. Drafting the Stakeholder proposal for a Strategic Research Agenda Challenge 2: Sustainable agriculture, forestry and landscape • Goals: • 1. Securing sustainability of agriculture by improving plants productivity and quality potential • 2. Reduce and optimize the environmental impact of agriculture • 3. Enhance biodiversity • 4. Viable and pleasant landscape • Deliverables: • Ornamental plants for pleasure and decoration • Products and services to enhance environment • Sustainable, multipurpose landscape management • Preservation of cultural landscapes by promoting innovative and sustainable land-use strategies

37. Drafting the Stakeholder proposal for a Strategic Research Agenda Challenge 3: Green Products • Goals: • 1. Renewable resources / renewable raw material, incl. biofuel / energy • Deliverables: • Novel functionalities from existing plant raw materials • Improved biorefining technologies to reduce the costs of conversion to bioethanol and platform chemicals • Novel oils to increase the utility of oil crops for biofuels, lubricants and bioproducts • Renewable monomers and polymers as replacement feedstocks • 2. Development of novel specialty products from plant production platforms

38. Drafting the Stakeholder proposal for a Strategic Research Agenda Challenge 3: Green Products • Goals: • 1. Renewable resources / renewable raw material, incl. biofuel / energy • 2. Development of novel specialty products from plant production platforms • Deliverables: • Increased yield and diversity of plant medicinals • Plant derived protein/peptide-based pharmaceuticals and diagnostics • Plant-based diagnostics for environmental hazard monitoring and remediation of pollutants

39. Drafting the Stakeholder proposal for a Strategic Research Agenda Challenge 4: Competitiveness, consumer choice and good governance • Goals: • Vibrant Basic Research • Deliverables: • Genome sequences and biodiversity inventories • Plant systems biology • Improved genomics tools and processes • Genetic systems for crop improvement • 2. Human Resources, infrastructure and networking • 3. Public / consumer involvement • 4. Ethics, Safety, legal and financial environment

40. Drafting the Stakeholder proposal for a Strategic Research Agenda Challenge 4: Competitiveness, consumer choice and good governance • Goals: • 1. Vibrant Basic Research • 2. Human Resources, infrastructure and networking • Deliverables: • Improved human resource training and skill management • Upgraded infrastructures for genomics and bioinformatics • Networks of research institutions, industry and other countries • 3. Public / consumer involvement • 4. Ethics, Safety, legal and financial environment

41. Drafting the Stakeholder proposal for a Strategic Research Agenda Challenge 4: Competitiveness, consumer choice and good governance • Goals: • 1. Vibrant Basic Research • 2. Human Resources, infrastructure and networking • 3. Public / consumer involvement • Deliverables: • Dissemination of the Knowledge of plants • Improved mutual trust between the public and the plant science community • Plants are fun • 4. Ethics, Safety, legal and financial environment

42. Drafting the Stakeholder proposal for a Strategic Research Agenda Challenge 4: Competitiveness, consumer choice and good governance • Goals: • 1. Vibrant Basic Research • 2. Human Resources, infrastructure and networking • 3. Public / consumer involvement • 4. Ethics, Safety, legal and financial environment • Deliverables: • Ethics: global justice, naturalness, freedom & consumer choice • Safety & legal: • Co-existence: competitive options for crop management, adequate presence thresholds and reducing gene flow • Improved legal environment, incl. legislation relating to safety • Financial: improved public funding, creative public-private partnerships, novel private investment

43. ETP Plants for the Future Organizational Structure - People • Steering Council • Chair: Hans Kast (BASF, EuropaBio) • Vice-chairs: Marc Zabeau (VIB, EPSO) • Jean-Claude Guillon (COGECA) • Mirror groups • Chair EP MG: Mr Chichester (chair ITRE) • Chair EC MG: Mr Pattermann (dir DG E) • Chair MS MG: t.b.a. • Secretariat • Karin Metzlaff (EPSO) • Simon Barber (EuropaBio)

44. ETP Plants for the Future Code of Conduct Mission Establish and carry forward a SRA Membership ~ 25; All relevant stakeholders Observers Organisation and operation structure as explained before Process of preparing and implementing the SRA Inclusiveness, transparency and communication Open to all interested parties / stakeholders that - Support the aim of strengthening research, development and innovation efforts in Europe in the plant sector - In a non-dogmatic manner & on the basis of consensus

45. ETP Plants for the Future Code of Conduct • Inclusiveness, transparency and communication cont. • Via ETP website • Summary meeting reports • Register to comment on drafts • register to get involved in the activities • Synergy between different initiatives • Goals of the ERA-NET and the ETP are complementary • - ERA-Net focus: coordination of publicly funded national plant genomics programs • - ETP focus: structure public and private plant research • International dimension • The European strategy must aligned with the global strategy – US, developing countries