Reviewing research priorities in weed ecology, evolution and management: a horizon scan

Abstract

SummaryWeedy plants pose a major threat to food security, biodiversity, ecosystem services and consequently to human health and wellbeing. However, many currently used weed management approaches are increasingly unsustainable. To address this knowledge and practice gap, in June 2014, 35 weed and invasion ecologists, weed scientists, evolutionary biologists and social scientists convened a workshop to explore current and future perspectives and approaches in weed ecology and management. A horizon scanning exercise ranked a list of 124 pre‐submitted questions to identify a priority list of 30 questions. These questions are discussed under seven themed headings that represent areas for renewed and emerging focus for the disciplines of weed research and practice. The themed areas considered the need for transdisciplinarity, increased adoption of integrated weed management and agroecological approaches, better understanding of weed evolution, climate change, weed invasiveness and finally, disciplinary challenges for weed science. Almost all the challenges identified rested on the need for continued efforts to diversify and integrate agroecological, socio‐economic and technological approaches in weed management. These challenges are not newly conceived, though their continued prominence as research priorities highlights an ongoing intransigence that must be addressed through a more system‐oriented and transdisciplinary research agenda that seeks an embedded integration of public and private research approaches. This horizon scanning exercise thus set out the building blocks needed for future weed management research and practice; however, the challenge ahead is to identify effective ways in which sufficient research and implementation efforts can be directed towards these needs.

The Phytotoxic Potential of the Flowering Foliage of Gorse (Ulex europaeus) and Scotch Broom (Cytisus scoparius), as Pre-Emergent Weed Control in Maize in a Glasshouse Pot Experiment

“…The usage of the foliage of gorse and Scotch broom from the forest and invaded areas may provide the opportunity to transform and recycle the waste material of the forest industry and invasive species into raw materials for sustainable agriculture. This kind of multiple factor environmental approach will be in high demand in the new scenarios of weed management [47][48][49].…”

Distribution and abundance of invasive Tamarix genotypes in South Africa

“…However, CBC is known to be ecologically and environmentally friendly, cost‐effective and provides sustainable control over time (van Driesche et al ., ). For effective management of invasive species, it is essential to estimate their extent, spread and abundance and to evaluate their potential impact on native ecosystems (Nagler et al ., ; Neve et al ., ). However, there is currently no estimation of the extent of the Tamarix invasion in South Africa.…”

Reflections on 14 years as Editor‐in‐Chief

“…In terms of recent forward‐looking papers, a review of weed research priorities by Neve et al . () and an Insights paper on the benefits or otherwise of weed diversity by Storkey and Neve () are useful additions. The latter type of paper was introduced mid‐way through my tenure, and we also now have Methods papers and Priority papers, if the material is worthy and authors request such treatment of manuscripts.…”