Mixtures have benefits for many groups.

• Industry / End users / Retailers
• Farmers
• Organic producers
• Politicians / Government
• Ecologists / Environmentalists
• Molecular biologists
• Modellers / Theoreticians
• Plant pathologists / Entomologists

Industry / End users / Retailers

More stable quality (acceptable level of heterogeneity)

Reduced environmental effect on quality

Lower cost (from higher yield and reduced inputs)

Extended life of niche varieties by blending with others which compensate for their deficiencies

Reduced agrochemical residues from reduced pesticide inputs (ecologically sound, greener image, price premium potential)

Novel product potential - for example, organic beer

Farmers

Increased yield from same inputs, or reduced inputs leading to increased profitability

New markets demanding lower inputs / reduced residues

Price premium potential from organic or extenso reduced residue markets

Stable yield and quality across fields and between years

Organic producers

Disease control without agrochemicals potential

Better resource exploitation from improved yields

Opportunities to grow old varieties with better abilities to exploit soil nutrients with modern varieties with improved traits for end users

Exploit canopy architecture to achieve competitiveness against weeds

Politicians / Government

Immediately available technology to reduce pesticide inputs

Improved nutrient exploitation potential therefore less nitrogen run-off to water sources

Greater supply quality and quantity stability

Improved prospects for organic producers

Ecologists / Environmentalists

Increased crop biodiversity

Reduced pesticides usage

More insects in more diverse habitats

Molecular biologists

Opportunities to test genes not yet in commercially acceptable backgrounds in an agronomically adapted environment

Rapid exploitation of major / specific (easily manipulated) resistance genes in a sustainable environment

Modellers / Theoreticians

Experimental systems to manipulate spatial and genetic epidemiological parameters to test models and improve understanding.

Plant pathologists / Entomologists

Manipulation of spatial, morphological and genetic factors to slow epidemics

Study of habitats to manipulate the balance between predators and insect pathogens

Mission statement: To exploit knowledge of heterogeneous trophic interactions in vegetation systems to achieve a sustainable agricultural ecosystem?

Contact: Adrian Newton or Stuart Swanston, SCRI, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, Scotland, UK