John A Pickett, CBE, DSc, FRS, NAS (F.A.)

Global food security: removing production constraints with GM but learning from nature 

The need further to intensify, in a sustainable way, global agriculture becomes ever more pressing. Our current tools mainly comprise seasonal inputs for dealing with constraints relating to crop protection and production but delivery of associated traits via seed, and other planting material, sets high demands often without obvious solutions. GM will need to play a major part certainly in dealing with constraints and because of the low impact on primary metabolic processes, secondary plant metabolism presents powerful new targets. By definition, the genetic apparatus for exploitation of these metabolites only requires identification and natural regulatory processes provide evidence of value already realised in some elements of biological control such as companion cropping. Synthetic biology can then extend these opportunities and will be exemplified for the isoprenoid pathway in plant defence and production.