The European Technology Platform

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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
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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)

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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
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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 Europes 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
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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 Europes agriculture, forestry,
Agro-food Industry and society
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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 Europes
competitiveness and consumer choice
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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
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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
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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 fromPlants for the Future
(chapter 1)
4 Views to address the challenges.
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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
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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
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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)
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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 (ornamenta
ls, landscape management)
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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)
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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)
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Launch the Stakeholder proposal for a Strategic
Research Agenda
Press Conference in Strasbourg, 5th July 2005
Agenda Introduction Hans Kast (BASF,
EuropaBio) Speeches Janez Potocnik
(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
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Articulate SRA 2025 and Action Plan 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 (Jun05)
In parallel input to
Meetings in 20 Member States Feedback to
working groups (Dec05)
FP7, National research programs industry,
farmer,
Workshops to amend draft ? SRA 2025 AP 2010
(Oct06)
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Consultation on the 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, Jul05)
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Consultation on the 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- Nov05 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 Dec05 Strategic Research Agenda 2025
and Action Plan 2010 October 2006
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Consultation on the 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
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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
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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
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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
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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_at_p
sb.ugent.be
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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
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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
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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

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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
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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

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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

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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

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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
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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
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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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)
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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
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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