5 research outputs found
Which future for weed science
5 páginas, ilustraciones y tablas estadísticas.Weed science is a discipline dealing with a serious biotic
threat capable of causing heavy economic, environmental
or aesthetic losses to society. In the past, we have
been successful in providing efficient, relatively cheap
and safe technologies to manage this threat in a variety
of situations. We have been able to provide practical
advice and options for the end-users based on a broad
scientific knowledge. In order to continue this success,
we need to anticipate the future and change faster than
the world around us. Numerous opportunities are open
to us. Weed science should enter the global climate
change arena, getting involved in both mitigation
(improving the carbon efficiency of agriculture and
forestry) and adaptation (developing effective practices
for the new crops, new production systems and the new
weeds). We should find adequate answers to the new
demands originating from the enlargement of farms and
fields, the increased concern about the conservation of
biodiversity and the growing consumer demands on
food safety. We should look for new clients in nonagricultural
sectors, offering them our proved expertise
and know-how. We should try to exploit the new
opportunities arising as a result of cross-fertilisation of
weed science with other disciplines. At the same time, we
need to be aware of some threats: the dominance of
short-term commercial and political objectives in setting
research agendas, the reduced R&D resources invested
in the agrochemical industry in the development of new
herbicides and the increasing publish or perish pressure
in the public research sector.Peer reviewe