Emily R. Larson|Emily Armstrong|Helen Harper|Sandra Knapp|Keith J. Edwards|Donald Grierson|Guy M. Poppy|Mark W. Chase|Jonathan D. G. Jones|Ruth Bastow|G. J. Jellis|Steve Barnes|Paul Temple|Matthew Clarke|Giles Oldroyd|Claire Grierson
One hundred important questions for plant science – reflecting on a decade of plant research
University of Bristol|University of Bristol|University of Bristol|Natural History Museum|University of Bristol|University of Nottingham|University of Southampton|Curtin University|Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew|Sainsbury Laboratory|Norwich Research Park|JSR Farming (United Kingdom)|Monsanto (United Kingdom)|Bayer (United Kingdom)|University of Bristol
2011 published 100 important questions plant science research pertaining society b environment adaptation c species interactions understanding utilising plant cells e diversity grierson et al 2011 original publication became one read articles new phytologist demonstrating wide interest identifying priorities plant research reflect developments plant science since 2011 paper original questions mind horizon scanning identify prioritise gaps knowledge researchers funders interested predictable research looking back well forward illuminate trajectory field also provides context new paper identifying current important 100 questions plant science research armstrong et al 2023 questions 2011 designed enable quantitative study research predictabilityoutcomes space constraints mean possible mention excellent work contributed advancing plant science past decade connections five categories mean crossreferencing sections unavoidable full list questions descriptions grierson et al 2011 provided supplementary data questions referenced a6 section 6 question 6 past 10 years brought much greater awareness climate change biodiversity crises importance plants human survival despite continued destruction tropical forests peat bogs caused significant losses biodiversity climate stability holden 2005 barlow et al 2016 seidl et al 2017 kitson bell 2020 qin et al 2021 jeopardising global agreement goals a12 a13 c5 d22 e3 urgent radical action needed prevent increasingly catastrophic outcomes wef 2022 2016 paris countries agreed minimise rise global average temperature achieve net zero carbon emissions 2050 unfccc 2015 a6 2021 cop26 glasgow 45 world leaders committed accelerate innovation deployment clean technologies decade annual progress assessed breakthrough agenda reports iea 2022 noticeable increase climate activism rethinking food systems including moves plantbased diets poppy baverstock 2019 bhunnoo poppy 2020 raducu et al 2020 plus international poll results indicated strong global public support action tackle climate change flynn et al 2021 gaffney et al 2021 a1 a3 a14 b6 c5 plant science made important contributions improving models climate change consequences ikeda et al 2017 rtter et al 2018 merganiov et al 2019 kawamiya et al 2020 a6 d22 evidence serious consequences climate change including droughtrelated conflict migration happening abel et al 2019 many others acknowledged major risks food security despite significant advances speed breeding protocols watson et al 2018 acceptance technologies could accelerate development new crops patchy genetically modified gm crops 29 cultivating countries 72 issued regulatory approvals occupy c 14 global arable land grown many regions isaaa 2019 including eu africa james 2015 a5 signs change example survey britons engage science reported public feel aware plant science accept gm organisms particularly health benefits department business energy industrial strategy 2020 a10 a11 a14 a15 gene editing regulations around world range regulated gmo unregulated isaaa 2021 uk government outlined gene edited crops make plant breeding faster precise defra 2021 first crispredited wheat crop planted uk october 2021 european first peplow 2021 a8 a9a despite advances weed pest control reducing fertiliser application land use cultural change towards sustainable models food production land use patchy sporadic a3 a4 despite relevance urgent challenges including climate change prediction adaptation mitigation food security human health plant science received far less funding fields health research eg 50 plant science vs 48 b health research uk 2018 many plant researchers projects struggle find funding leaving plantrelated industries without realistic affordable solutions global investment research resilient sustainable agriculture grown sufficiently meet globally agreed climate change goals iea 2022 also preference publishers funders academic employers highimpact publications novel discoveries wellfounded incremental knowledge limited contributes research b7 b8 b9 response dora declaration alberts 2013 dora 2013 eminent bodies eg royal society catlow 2019 public funders ukri 2019 recognised ways measure merit impact fundability plant science provides crucial information humanity needs improve prospects effective response requires political social commercial action highlighted 10 years ago interdisciplinary collaboration essential a18 exciting reflect increasingly diverse integrated research community plant scientists increasingly collaborated experts fields including commerce social science policy communication engaged via broadcasters eg bbc studios natural history unit documentary green planet popular science books eg defence plants matt candeias 2021 wainwright prize conservation writing winner entangled life merlin sheldrake 2021 frustration inadequate action climate change collapsing biodiversity scientists become political activists pancost 2022 racimo et al 2022 a9a a9b a10 imagine 10 years ago television programme would influence political landscape way blue planet ii plastic pollution may 2018 a10 a18 equally appreciate important social media would democratising access scientific information also propagating dangerous misinformation simple shareable content plant science education also changed a9b many university degrees incorporate sustainability entrepreneurship including economic business ecological social perspectives nordn avery 2021 diversity students wider plant science community increasing steps taken educate consult collaborate recognise contributions people increasingly diverse range backgrounds increasing societal importance tightly interlinked relationship climate biodiversity crises b1420 reflected research sustainable solutions come quickly enough iea 2022 underemphasised importance collaborations a18 countries different economic profiles solve climate biodiversity food security crises disproportionately affect countries global south ebi del barrio 2017 kunert et al 2020 mazhin et al 2020 however international programs like cgiar climate change agriculture food security international institute tropical agriculture iita aim support greener agriculture sustainability community levels growing around world b16b21 expected see investment genetic advancements within plant science b1 b3b6 b16 b19 e6 example improving hybrid wheat better resilience climate change domesticating new plant species davis et al 2020 neither gained much traction research centres continued apply plant genetics challenges henry 2020 mayer et al 2020 b10b15 vertical soilfree farming increasingly aim produce sustainable crops less reliant environmental stability eldridge et al 2020 b12 successful attempts reclaim deserts regreening kaptu et al 2015 maclean 2018 mentioned paper although knew important area investigate b21 identified questions around plants interact living environment relates nutrition ecosystem health diversity international year soils 2015 highlighted importance soil preservation health c6c8 c14 benefits plant microbiomes soil biodiversity c6c8 plant communities c9 berendsen et al 2012 thielebruhn et al 2012 liu et al 2016 rillig et al 2018 cheng et al 2019 olanrewaju et al 2019 work socially focused weed management technologyled pest disease solutions continued c1c4 c10c13 c15 bagavathiannan et al 2019 graham et al 2019 j zhang et al 2019 use neonicotinoids pesticide example potential benefits closer interactions agricultural ecological sciences could reduce commercial risks identifying potential impacts example pollinator populations c1 c4 c5 c10 tsvetkov et al 2017 woodcock et al 2017 drive exploration better alternatives c2 jactel et al 2019 recognised tensions c1 c2 c5 emphasise climate change might accelerate pest growth behaviour juroszek et al 2020 plant scientists increasingly worked global challenges impacts scientific advancement remain difficult predict example discovery small rnas plants d9 molnar et al 2011 fundamental mechanisms chromatin regulation b2 b8 d7 whittaker dean 2017 received wolf prize agriculture even though direct agricultural goals literature topics algal biofuels d20 d21 grown less anticipated model plants continue support fundamental research laboratory staples like arabidopsis parry et al 2020 nicotiana advance understanding epigenetic plant cell molecular biology d7 d8 d11 d12 allowing foundational questions addressed d3 d13 d14 d16 d17 importance negative results increasingly recognised nature editorial 2017 significant improvements statistical literacy major advances efficiency affordability gene editing tools notably crisprcas9 a8 jinek et al 2012 ray satya 2014 facilitating fundamental research range species example increase meiotic recombination hence novelty plant breeding li et al 2021 d18 d19 biosensors optobiology among newest tools investigating dynamics molecular interactions regulate hormone signalling cellular kinetics papanatsiou et al 2019 herudsikimi et al 2021 d15 structural biology using cryoem provides information plant immune system complexes et al 2020 martin et al 2020 whole plant transcriptional landscapes complex cell fates resolved ultrahighresolution singlecell rna sequencing first developed plants denyer et al 2019 q zhang et al 2019 collectively novel technical experimental capabilities mean previously unknown mechanisms networks pathways easier capture multiple model organisms reflecting questions highlights exciting innovations using plant systems screen bioreactive molecules medicinal relevance humans d24 applications industry d25 drakakaki et al 2011 espinosaleal et al 2018 chandran et al 2020 ipbes global assessment brondizio et al 2019 estimated million species threatened extinction meaning documentation plant diversity important ever e1 e2 e6 e17 especially speciesrich tropics kaptu et al 2015 maclean 2018 brummitt et al 2021 royal botanic gardens kew coordinating periodic assessment threats facing plant diversity sustainable use plant resources domesticated wild state worlds plants antonelli et al 2020 recognised increased amount arable land used livestock feed understated direct impact livestock environment potential contribution climate change need preserve native plant genetic diversity e1e6 e8 e17 a7 working primary food producers global south even urgent a1a3 a11 new organisations local entities like crop science centre alliance university cambridge niab international associations like airca joined established programmes cimmyt cgiar fao integrate plant diversity sustainability equity climate adaptability global agriculture e3 insights also gained origins plant diversity plant histories phylogenetics pellicer et al 2018 carta et al 2020 gonzlez et al 2020 donoghue et al 2021 e9e17 d4 scientists advanced genomic knowledge larger range species edwards batley 2010 uauy 2017 bayer et al 2020 yang yan 2021 together new plant transformation breeding techniques increased range species available fundamental applied research e7 e8 eck 2018 watson et al 2018 borrill 2020 thudi et al 2021 varshney et al 2021 including withinspecies genome comparisons revealed novel exciting mechanisms plant development physiology evolution new iteration 100 questions project completed armstrong et al 2023 includes quantitative comparisons original questions bbsrc langdale 2021 aspb henkhaus 2020 recently published decadal visions plant science confirming need strategic investment plant science breakthrough agenda report iea 2022 emphasises urgent need investment research reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions securing food supplies cannot overstate importance continued engagement plant scientists range breadth plant science topics fundamental discoveries urgent issues affecting daily lives covid19 pandemic demonstrated freedom rapidly deploy funding diverse research areas rapidly deliver powerful solutions global challenges eg harper et al 2021 plant scientists need work collaboratively broad forces economics politics policy disciplines benefits identified delivered celebrate plant research advances past decade look forward increasing recognition importance plant science potential solve crucial global problems ema hh supported bristol centre agricultural innovation erl supported school biological sciences university bristol none declared csg initiated led project erl coordinated project wrote initial drafts authors contributed content ema csg restructured rewrote paper response editorial referee comments ema hh erl mwc csg added details examples erl ema hh dg sk mwc csg edited final draft approved authors erl ema contributed equally work