Plants for the Future

Transcription

1 Plants for the Future Odd Arne Rognli Dept of Plant and Environmental Sciences, UMB

2 Plant Science : a field of opportunities for Europe that needs urgent attention Investing in plants is investing in the future For input & information: European Plant Science Organization (EPSO)

3 3 OUTLINE Why are plants so unique? Why are plants so important? KBBE and The four F s What are the challenges for the near future? Human population growth Climate changes Trends Do we need a new Green Revolution? What will be your challenges?

4 4 WHY ARE PLANTS SO UNIQUE? Plants are sessile cannot move Imagine that you could not move How would you: Eat Drink Keep warm Keep cool Escape from dangers Reproduce?????????

5 Plants are sophisticated organisms Plants are doing all this and in addition: Produce all the raw materials humans need to survive on earth The basis for human existence is the photosynthesis Convert solar energy and CO 2 into biomass Release O 2

6 6 WHY ARE PLANTS SO IMPORTANT? The Four F s Food Feed Fiber Fuel + Pleasure and beauty KBBE Knowledge Based Bio-Economy EU s goal for 2020 based on the Lisbon declaration Framework 7 project calls are termed KBBE

7 EUROPEAN PLANT RESEARCH PRIORITIES 1: Healthy, safe and sufficient food and feed supply 2: Sustainable agriculture, forestry and landscape 3: Green products 4: Competitiveness, consumer choice and good governance

8 What are the challenges for the near future? 8

9 GLOBAL HUMAN POPULATION billion billion Growth will peak in 2050 How do we produce enough food for the increasing population without destroying the environment? 9

10 10 TRENDS Rapid economic growth in China and India Increased purchasing power Increased demand Increased consumption of cereals, meat and milk Increased world market prices on food and feed commodities USA not the cereal supplier of the world anymore High energy-demand, small domestic energy resources Convert agricultural land to biofuel production Climate changes Unstable weather (temperature and precipitation) Yield instability across years and regions CO 2 -neutrality How to minimized the carbon footprint of food production?

11 11 HOW WILL THIS AFFECT US? Increased prices on commodities like wheat, maize and soybean Increased value of arable land, easier to argue for protection of land Need more plant and agronomic research Climate changes: Plant adaptation, drought, frost, new varieties Food and health: Nutritional composition, antioxidants etc Bio-energy: Conversion of lignocellulose, carbon footprints, plant breeding, genetic resources, environmental effects, life cycle analyses

12 Overwintering in grass species 12 PREDICTED CLIMATE CHANGES Increased temperature (2,5-3,0 ⁰C) mostly during winter and in the northern regions Longer growth seasons (already 14 days in the south of Norway) More precipitation 20% increase in the next 50 years, most along the coast and in the north, especially during autumn Dryer climates in the Eastern and Southern parts for Norway Less snow cover More unstable winter climates coastal climates all over? NB! Predictions uncertainty!

13 Overwintering in grass species 13 POSSIBLE RESULTS OF CLIMATE CHANGES Longer growth seasons earlier spring Higher temperatures in the growth season More and more variable precipitation What about the plant production? Increased biomass production More cuttings and prolonged grazing season for forages Increase problems with plant pests, especially fungal diseases Need new cultivars with different climatic adaptations Need plants with higher biomass production potential Winter survival will still be a great challenges and stresses might change

14 Overwintering in grass species Typical injury by ice encasement in coastal locations in Norway From Bodø, Nordland Will this be more common all over the country? 14

15 WE NEED NEW PLANT VARIETIES, PLANT BREEDING IS: Genetic variation (cultivars, local populations, exotic materials) Crossing and selection Cultivar development and marketing 15 Studying local populations of meadow fescue at the highland location Bioforsk Løken in Valdres

16 Plantesorter i endret klima GENETIC RESOURCES ARE VERY IMPORTANT FOR COPING WITH CLIMATE CHANGES 16 Kilde: Petter Marum, Graminor Kilde: Petter Marum, Graminor

17 Plant adaptation: Winter survival of meadow fescue cultivars (Stella, Norild) compared with Festulolium cultivars at Bodø, Nordland 17

18 18 Example of complexity: WINTER STRESS ON GRASSLANDS IN NORWAY Frost Ice Low temperature fungi Snow mould (Microdocium nivale) Gray snow mould (Typhyla incarnata) Speckled snow mould (Typhula ishikariensis) Sclerotinia snow mould (Sclerotinia borealis) Long-lasting snow cover Water logging Drought Low light intensity

19 Do we need a new Green Revolution? Are GM plants this revolution? 19

20 20

21 Herbicide resistance in maize

22 Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) insect resistance in cotton

23 SUPERWEEDS ROUNDUP RESISTANT JOHNSONGRASS IN A GM-SOYBEAN FIELD IN ARGENTINA Source: R.F. Service 2007; Science 316: , 25 MAY 2007

24 CHALLENGES YOU WILL MEET DURING YOUR STUDY Multifunctional agriculture production + ecosystem services Carbon footprint Locally produced food, farmers market (kortreist mat) Niche productions, healthy foods fruits and berries, high quality, high price, new plant products Organic farming increased demand, how to increase production? Is organic farming better than conventional? Need to adapt new species and develop new varieties Produce bio-energy from dedicated bioenergy crops? What about GM plants? 24 You will be the future decision makers!

25 Welcome as students and have a nice time at UMB! 25