Title: A vision for Weed Science in the twenty-first century.
Abstract: Weed Science, particularly in Japan, needs to return to a focus on “undesirable plants.” In three major eras until the present, the discipline has shifted from an exclusive focus on agriculture to land uses with more complex weed management goals. The goals of Weed Science, once clearly understood and universally recognizable, in the present era appear to lack clarity. This is due to various factors including: a perceived lack of unmet technical needs in weed management, a lack of funding for research, a frequent lack of understanding and respect of our discipline from fellow scientists and academic administrators, and a bad reputation for herbicides among non-scientists. We present a future vision for the discipline that includes a return to the basics for Weed Biology, an integrated approach to Weed Management, and a need to educate both scientists and non-scientists about the importance of Weed Science. [BREEN, J. and OGASAWARA, M. (2011). A vision for Weed Science in the twenty-first century. Weed Biology and Management, 11: 113–117. doi: 10.1111/j.1445-6664.2011.00418.x]