‘Systems approach’ plant breeding illustrated by trees

The linkage in new and creative ways of existing plant breeding methods responsive to different global trends and values provides a ‘systems approach’ to address a broad set of global production challenges more effectively. Here, we illustrate such an approach through its application to trees, chosen because of their extensive diversity in features, uses, users, production contexts, and domestication pathways. We coin the resulting strategy ‘tree diversity breeding’ and consider it with reference to trends and values related to participation, environment, biotechnology, and markets as examples. Features of the approach for trees are applicable to plant breeding more widely, as we seek to address complex problems through strategic biodiversity use.