E G Brown: Commercial significance of plants: History and pointers to the future; C W Lewis: The energy content of crops; M N Sivak and D A Walker: Can in vivo photosynthesis be modified?; M W Kerr and D P Whitaker: Energy losses by photorespiration; J M Whipps and J M Lynch: Energy losses by the plant in rhizodeposition; T H Thomas: Chemical manipulation of standing crops; J Burley and L A Lockhart: Chemical extractives and exudates from trees; T Galliard: Bulk chemicals from plants: Starch and starch-derived products; C J Smith: Polysaccharide synthesis: Implications for industry; B Lockwood: Gelling agents; M Calvin: Fuel oils from higher plants; D O Hall, D A Affolter, M Brouers, D-J Shi, L-W Yang and K K Rao: Photobiological production of fuels and chemicals by immobilized algae; P Cuendet and M Gratzel: Artificial photosynthesis; R S Crespi: Patenting plants: A problem area; J E Beringer and C M Lazarus: The genetic manipulation of crop plants; M G K Jones: New plants through tissue culture; K W Fuller and D J Bartlett: The chemosynthetic potential of plants and its realization by immobilized systems; P J Harvey, H E Schoemaker and J M Palmer: Enzymic degradation of lignin and its potential to supply chemicals; S L Neidleman and J Geigert: Halometabolites: biosynthesis and biological activity; D A Wood: Useful biodegradation of lignocellulose.