Spotlight on Plants

In 2050, feeding the expected global population of 10 billion will require a significant increase in food production despite the negative effects of changing climate on agricultural yields.

Modern SMART breeding methods using molecular marker assisted selection, as well as advanced omics technologies such as genomics and transcriptomics have changed the way in which new varieties are developed. Established genetic modification techniques such as siRNA and RNAi have produced new plant varieties, but regulatory challenges have hindered their commercialisation in many countries.

The adoption of New Plant Breeding Techniques (NBTs) such as gene editing (using molecular tools such as Zinc finger nucleases, TALENs and CRISPR/Cas) has dramatically accelerated the development of new varieties, and the regulatory environment for these is shifting as governments around the world recognise the potential of these technologies. Modern agricultural methods combine data science and cutting edge technologies to optimize growing conditions. Increasingly, new approaches such as vertical farming, autonomous vehicles and artificial intelligence are being employed to increase yields whilst using less land, water, and agricultural inputs.

These advanced technologies are critical to providing food security in our changing climate and providing plant-derived solutions to challenges such as plastic pollution and the transition from fossil fuels.

Some of the many ways in which plant biology and agricultural science is providing innovative solutions to modern and future problems include:

New plant varieties with improved resilience, pest resistance or enhanced nutritional profiles, providing crops that will thrive in challenging climates and provide high value nutrition to those in need;
Innovative sources of industrial oils and fuels from plants and algae, helping to provide sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels.
Bioremediation through plants engineered to remove pollutants such as explosives and heavy metals from the soil or harmful chemicals such as benzene and chloroform from the air.
Plants and cultured plant cells as factories for producing drugs and vaccines.
Advanced agricultural methods such as vertical farming and hydroponics to grow crops in places where previously it would have been impossible.
The use of big data and artificial intelligence in agriculture to optimise growing conditions.

Our report examines the role of patents in making innovative ‘green’ technologies into a reality as well as how the patent landscape can be used to identify opportunities for partnering, collaboration and investment.

We share our enthusiasm and admiration for commercially-focused innovation across a diverse range of technologies, from repurposing carbon dioxide to make protein-rich foods, to the multi-faceted approach to a circular plastics economy. We also discuss the tantalising prospect of AI-mediated renewable energy supply, and the harnessing of battery tech from the EV boom to drive energy efficiency in consumer devices. This report reflects our passion for technology solutions that tackle our shared global challenge.

By embracing technology, plant biology and crop science are rising to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

Plant breeders have embraced the use of omics technologies such as genomics and transcriptomics to inform breeding programmes and develop marker assisted selection techniques to optimize traditional plant breeding techniques. Although genetically modified plants containing exogenous transgenes have faced opposition and regulatory challenges that have restricted and often entirely prevented their commercialisation, there are signs that New Breeding Techniques (NBTs) such as gene editing will be more widely adopted.

Companies are already using NBTs to rapidly develop new plant varieties, but if these were more broadly approved by governments around the world this could see a step change in the number of new varieties making it to market.

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