Recipient Organization
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MICROBIOLOGY
1752 N STREET, NW
WASHINGTON,DC 20036
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The worlds human population is expected to surpass nine billion by 2050. At the same time, arable land, clean water and phosphate fertilizers are increasingly limited resources, the productivity gains of the Green Revolution are leveling off, the costs of using fossil fuels to transport fertilizer and food around the world are becoming prohibitive, and climate change will affect crop range and productivity in ways that are not yet predictable. To meet this new challenge, society needs inexpensive and sustainable approaches to improving productivity--not only of the major commodity crops like wheat and rice, but also local crops of all kinds, especially in areas of rapid population expansion, namely in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Fortunately, the field of plant-microbe interactions has entered an era of particular promise and has the potential to provide innovative and highly adaptable approaches to increasing plant productivity. Microbe-plant partnerships improve plant resistance to many kinds of stress, including disease, drought, salinity, limited nutrients, and extreme temperature. Advances in the fundamental understanding of natural relationships between plants and the microbial world can be put to immediate use to sustainably increase the productivity of almost any crop. The AAM, the organizer of this colloquium, is the honorific leadership component of the American Society for Microbiology, the worlds largest single life science organization with nearly 40,000 members. The AAM is composed of leading scientists in all subspecialties of microbiology elected on the basis of outstanding contributions to basic, clinical, and applied microbiology. By convening a group of 20-25 world experts on plant-microbe interactions, the AAM will facilitate the dvelopment of a report that answers the following questions: The following questions will be the focus of the colloquium: 1. Why are plant/microbe interactions important 2. What are the currently known general categories of plant/microbe interactions 3. How do plants and microbes interact with one another 4. What kinds of roles do microbes play in plant growth, development, and productivity 5. What kind of stresses, both biotic and abiotic, can microbes help plants withstand 6. What are some examples of cooperative plant/microbe interactions that could be used, or are already being used, to provide agricultural benefits 7. What are the most significant gaps in our understanding of plant/microbe interactions, specifically with respect to agricultural production 8. What new tools, methods and/or approaches might be used to address the gaps identified in question #7 9. In those examples of plant/microbes interactions that have been successfully implemented, what factors were important in their implementation The resultant report will serve as an introduction to the potential of this field, and a roadmap for future research.
Animal Health Component
20%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
80%
Applied
20%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The worlds human population is expected to surpass nine billion by 2050. At the same time, arable land, clean water and phosphate fertilizers are increasingly limited resources, the productivity gains of the Green Revolution are leveling off, the costs of using fossil fuels to transport fertilizer and food around the world are becoming prohibitive, and climate change will affect crop range and productivity in ways that are not yet predictable. To meet this new challenge, society needs inexpensive and sustainable approaches to improving productivity--not only of the major commodity crops like wheat and rice, but also local crops of all kinds, especially in areas of rapid population expansion, namely in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Fortunately, the field of plant-microbe interactions has entered an era of particular promise and has the potential to provide innovative and highly adaptable approaches to increasing plant productivity. Microbe-plant partnerships improve plant resistance to many kinds of stress, including disease, drought, salinity, limited nutrients, and extreme temperature. Advances in the fundamental understanding of natural relationships between plants and the microbial world can be put to immediate use to sustainably increase the productivity of almost any crop. Scientific and technological advances of the last decade have quickly expanded the kinds of questions that can be asked and answered. It is an excellent time for a colloquium devoted specifically to asking what areas of study are particularly primed for advances that could enhance crop productivity. Raising awareness of the potential of this field, building a community of researchers with a shared interest in how microbial partnerships of diverse kinds can help plants adapt to stress, and identifying how the field can best advance, could have consequences beyond a small community of researchers by inspiring young people to choose careers in science and providing the public with concrete examples of the value of basic research. Discussions at the colloquium will be captured in a report that will be freely available to the public. The following questions will be the focus of the colloquium: 1. Why are plant/microbe interactions important 2. What are the currently known general categories of plant/microbe interactions 3. How do plants and microbes interact with one another 4. What kinds of roles do microbes play in plant growth, development, and productivity 5. What kind of stresses, both biotic and abiotic, can microbes help plants withstand 6. What are some examples of cooperative plant/microbe interactions that could be used, or are already being used, to provide agricultural benefits 7. What are the most significant gaps in our understanding of plant/microbe interactions, specifically with respect to agricultural production 8. What new tools, methods and/or approaches might be used to address the gaps identified in question #7 9. In those examples of plant/microbes interactions that have been successfully implemented, what factors were important in their implementation
Project Methods
The AAM, the organizer of this colloquium, is the honorific leadership component of the American Society for Microbiology, the worlds largest single life science organization with nearly 40,000 members. The AAM is composed of leading scientists in all subspecialties of microbiology elected on the basis of outstanding contributions to basic, clinical, and applied microbiology. Among its 2,000 elected members are over 200 members of the National Academy of Sciences. The AAM has convened critical issues colloquia for 15 years with support from many federal agencies including the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Energy, and Defense, Food and Drug Administration, World Health Organization, World Bank, as well as private foundations and companies. AAM sponsored colloquia differ from traditional conferences in which formal presentations are made. The Colloquium process begins with the recruitment of 4-7 experts to serve as the colloquium steering committee. These individuals then meet to develop a set of questions and a list of invitees. Always, the goal is to choose questions that will stimulate examination of the topic from fresh angles. The steering committee also decides what kinds of expertise will be needed to answer the questions and generates an invitation list of potential participants. The American Academy of Microbiology arranges all logistical details so that the group quickly establishes a cooperative, team-based approach to discussions. After a plenary opening dinner, the participants are divided into three working groups. Each group develops answers to a few questions at a time, followed by a plenary session when the groups gather to share their answers and agree on recommendations. The meeting, alternating between break-out and plenary sessions, lasts for 1-1/2 days. This makes for a densely packed schedule, but compressing the meeting in this way allows participants to arrive on day 1 and depart at noon on day 3 - keeping costs down and making attendance feasible for more people. The steering committee for "How Microbes Can Help Feed the World" includes the following individuals: Ian Sanders (Chair), University of Lausanne, Switzerland; Ann Lichens-Park, United States Department of Agriculture; Marilyn Roossinck, Pennsylvania State University; Linda S. Thomashow, Washington State University; Ryland Young, Texas A&M University; and Ann Reid: American Academy of Microbiology. Attendance at the colloquium is by invitation only, and includes a maximum of 20-25 participants. The steering committee proposes participants, with particular attention to ensuring participation of underrepresented groups including minorities, women, and persons with disabilities. Efforts are also directed toward including participants at different career stages. The AAM is responsible for invitations and all logistical arrangements.