Boosting the globalization of plant proteomics through INPPO: current developments 3 and future prospects

The International Plant Proteomics Organization (INPPO) is a non-profit-organization consisting of people who are involved or interested in plant proteomics. INPPO is constantly growing in volume and activity, which is mostly due to the realization among plant proteomics researchers worldwide for the need of such a global platform. Their active participation resulted in the rapid growth within the first year of INPPO’s official launch in 2011 via its website (www.inppo.com) and publication of the ‘viewpoint paper’ in a special issue of PROTEOMICS (May 2011). Here, we will be highlighting the progress achieved in the year 2011 and the future targets for the year 2012 and onwards. INPPO has achieved a successful administrative structure, the Core Committee (CC; composed of President, Vice-President, and General Secretaries), Executive Council (EC), and General Body (GB) toward achieving the INPPO objectives by its proposed initiatives. Various committees and subcommittees are in the process of being functionalized via discussion amongst scientists around the globe. INPPO’s primary aim to popularize the plant proteomics research in biological sciences has also been recognized by PROTEOMICS where a new section has been introduced to plant proteomics starting January 2012, following the very first issue of this journal devoted to plant proteomics in May 2011. To disseminate organizational activities to the scientific community, INPPO has launched a biannual (in January & July) newsletter entitled “INPPO Express: News & Views” with the first issue published in January 2012. INPPO is also planning to have several activities in 2012, including programs within the Education Outreach committee in different countries, and the development of research ideas and proposals with priority on crop and horticultural plants, while keeping tight interactions with proteomics programs on model plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana, rice, or Medicago truncatula. Altogether, the INPPO progress and upcoming activities are because of immense support, dedication, and hard work of all members of the INPPO family, and also due to the wide encouragement and support from the communities (scientific and non-scientific).

Transgenic cereals: current status and future prospects

This review summarises the history of transgenic (GM) cereals, principally maize, and then focuses on the scientific literature published in the last two years. It describes the production of GM cereals with modified traits, divided into input traits and output traits. The first category includes herbicide tolerance and insect resistance, and resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses; the second includes altered grains for starch, protein or nutrient quality, the use of cereals for the production of high value medical or other products, and the generation of plants with improved efficiency of biofuel production. Using data from field trial and patent databases the review considers the diversity of GM lines being tested for possible future development. It also summarises the dichotomy of response to GM products in various countries, describes the basis for the varied public acceptability of such products, and assesses the development of novel breeding techniques in the light of current GM regulatory procedures.

Climate change and water in the UK: past changes and future prospects

Climate change is expected to modify rainfall, temperature and catchment hydrological responses across the world, and adapting to these water-related changes is a pressing challenge. This paper reviews the impact of anthropogenic climate change on water in the UK and looks at projections of future change. The natural variability of the UK climate makes change hard to detect; only historical increases in air temperature can be attributed to anthropogenic climate forcing, but over the last 50 years more winter rainfall has been falling in intense events. Future changes in rainfall and evapotranspiration could lead to changed flow regimes and impacts on water quality, aquatic ecosystems and water availability. Summer flows may decrease on average, but floods may become larger and more frequent. River and lake water quality may decline as a result of higher water temperatures, lower river flows and increased algal blooms in summer, and because of higher flows in the winter. In communicating this important work, researchers should pay particular attention to explaining confidence and uncertainty clearly. Much of the relevant research is either global or highly localized: decision-makers would benefit from more studies that address water and climate change at a spatial and temporal scale appropriate for the decisions they make

Caribbean trade and integration: trends and future prospects

Includes Bibliography

Trade and investment promotion between Asia-Pacific and Latin America: present position and future prospects

Includes bibliography

The trade union system: its background and future prospects

Includes bibliography

The present state and future prospects of the environment in Latin America and the Caribbean

Includes bibliography

El Salvador: industrial policy, business attitudes and future prospects

Includes bibliography

Instituto Latinoamericano de Planificación Económica y Social (ILPES): perspectivas futuras y síntesis de actividades 1981-1984 = Latin American Institute for Economic and Social Planning (ILPES): future prospects and summary of activities 1981-1984

Incluye Bibliografía

Instituto Latinoamericano de Planificación Económica y Social: actividades 1979-1981 y perspectivas futuras = Latin American Institute for Economic and Social Planning: activities between 1979 and 1981 and future prospects

Incluye Bibliografía

Crisis y desarrollo: presente y futuro de América Latina y el Caribe. Vol 1: Transformación y crisis: América Latina y el Caribe 1950-1984 = Crisis and development: the present situation and future prospects of Latin America and the Caribbean. Vol 1: Change and crisis: Latin America and the Caribbean 1950-1984

Incluye Bibliografía

Crisis y desarrollo: presente y futuro de América Latina y el Caribe. Vol 2: Desencadenamiento de la crisis y la reacción de la política económica: resultados y alternativas = Crisis and development: the present situation and future prospects of Latin America and the Caribbean. Vol. 2: Onset of the crisis and the economic policy response: effects and options

Incluye Bibliografía

Crisis y desarrollo: presente y futuro de América Latina y el Caribe. Vol 3: Desafíos y opciones para el desarrollo futuro = Crisis and development: the present situation and future prospects of Latin America and the Caribbean. Vol. 3: Challenges and options for future development

Se refiere a las orientaciones que podrian imprimirse al desarrollo economico y social en el mediano y largo plazo, en particular en los proximos diez anos, aunque tambien considera una perspectiva de mas largo plazo vinculada, entre otros aspectos, a modificaciones de la economia internacional.

El café en América Latina: problemas de la productividad y perspectivas: 1. Colombia y El Salvador = Coffee in Latin America: productivity problems and future prospects: 1. Colombia and El Salvador

Incluye Bibliografía