PLANT AND SOIL NEMATODES - SOCIETAL IMPACT AND FOCUS FOR THE FUTURE

Plant and soil nematodes significantly impact our lives. Therefore, we must understand and manage these complex organisms so that we may con tinue to develop and sustain our food production systems, our natural resources, our environment, and our quality of life. This publication looks specifically at soil and plant nematology. First, the societal i mpact of nematodes and benefits of nematology research are briefly pre sented. Next, the opportunities facing nematology in the next decade a re outlined, as well as the resources needed to address these prioriti es. The safety and sustainability of U.S. food and fiber production de pends on public and administrative understanding of the importance of nematodes, the drastic effects of nematodes on many agricultural and h orticultural crops, and the current research priorities of nematology.