ABSTRACT
In this chapter we will venture away from the confines of laboratories, research institutes and plant breeding stations that engage in plant genomics research, to consider some of the social, economic, political and regulatory issues associated with plant genomics. Why might this be important? Plants are central to human societies: they provide us with clean air, food to eat, medicines, building materials and sources of energy in both developing and industrialized societies. Scientific research and new technologies that affect the way we understand and use plants can have consequences that extend far beyond the laboratory. This might seem obvious, given that the purpose of most research is to discover more about the world around us, ideally to the benefit of society at large. But experience tells us that the products of plant science research are not all seamlessly integrated into society: sometimes they are welcomed, sometimes they are resisted, and sometimes they bring to light values or assumptions that we live by, forcing us to reconsider our place in the natural world. In this chapter we will begin to explore the intricate and dynamic relationship between science and society.
