Future research directions for weed science

A Research Committee was established by the Weed Science Society of America to outline the direction of weed science research during the next decade. Weeds adversely affect humans in both agricultural and nonagricultural envi ronments. It is the opinion of the research committee that weed science wil l be advantageously positioned for the future if research focuses on resear ch decision processes, weed biology and ecology, weed control and managemen t practices, herbicide resistance, issues related to transgenic plants, env ironmental issues, and potential benefits of weeds. These future weed scien ce research directions endorse those of the commodity and grower input grou p Coalition for Research on Plant Systems (CROPS)'99, a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)-supported initiative. The future of weed science is depe ndent on a, joint effort from industry, government regulators, and the publ ic sector consisting of grower groups, as well as USDA, Agriculture and Agr i-Food Canada (AAFC), and university researchers. It is our opinion that ef forts spent on these research areas will benefit not only growers, commodit y groups, homeowners, and industry, but society at large, through the maint enance and improvement of the food and fiber production system, and the env ironment in North America.