The plant energy system is the largest set of biochemical reactions on earth. Only by working together we can understand and enhance plant energy efficiency for our future.

Most of our food, fibre and fuel is sourced directly or indirectly from plants as energy-containing and nutrient-rich molecules like sugars, amino acids, proteins, starch, oils and cellulose.

The synthesis, transport, storage and use of these molecules during growth and development is the plant energy system and it determines the final yield of plant products.

Its efficiency at different scales can be measured: in cells as the proportion of energy used for cell maintenance vs growth; in whole plants as the ratio of input resources to harvest product; in the environment as the degree of adaptation of populations of plants to grow successfully in variable.