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Oct 15, 2013 | | | 4:18 am |
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A new, strategic research plan for the development of new crops and cultivars is set to secure the competitiveness of European agriculture over the next 20 years. The research plan is the product of consultations with 290 stakeholders representing industry, agriculture, and the environment. In Strasburg, The European Plant Science Organisation (EPSO), the European Commission, and the European Association for Bioindustries (EuropaBio) presented the plan entitled “Plants for the Future: A European Vision for Plant Genomics and Biotechnology, 2025”. The document recommends using genetic engineering to achieve some of its goals.
Another aspect of feed production that needs improvement is the presence of mycotoxins in cereals. Mycotoxins are produced by moulds and by several fungal diseases that infect cereal grains. According to the Food and Agricultural Association of the United Nations (FAO), mycotoxins account for approximately one billion dollars in yield losses annually. Additionally, latent mycotoxin stress from infected feed can compromise the health and quality of livestock. Renewable resourcesModern plant biotechnology is considered the key to what is known as a "bio-based economy". In such a scenario, agriculture is used not only for producing food and feed, but also as a major source of energy and renewable raw materials. This system takes advantage of microorganisms and enzymes for producing raw materials such as carbohydrates, fatty acids, and fibres in energy- and resource-conserving industrial systems. The ultimate objective of this approach is to replace fossil fuels with renewable biomass optimised using biotechnological methods. Such a system would drastically reduce worldwide CO2 emissions by an estimated 180 million tonnes per year. According to the research plan, the value added to the chemical industry alone would total 22 billion euro. This could be a huge job creator in fields like agriculture, processing industries, and trade. Diversity in agricultureThe plan makes note of the need to preserve and enrich cultivar diversity as a step toward conserving biodiversity in European agriculture. Also of importance is reducing the use of pesticides and other substances, and at the same time improving plant defence against drought, pests, and diseases. Given these considerations, the plan strives to develop advanced agricultural systems that take into account the preservation of nature and the environment. A demand for dialogue: Input taken from a broad spectrum of stakeholdersInput for the 20 year research plan was provided by 290 representatives from scientific institutions, industry, agriculture, politics, capital market, regulatory agencies, consumer groups, and environmental organisations from a total of 30 different countries. The EU-Commissioner for Science and Research, Janez Potočnik, lauded the project stating, “this joint effort of all those involved in the agricultural production chain to identify and take into account scientific and technological potential, market drivers and consumer demand can only be positive for the future of the agricultural sector.”
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