Reconciling plant intelligence with artificial intelligence. Plant intelligence has its place alongside artificial intelligence. The potential for knowledge, discovery and utility for society is comparable. We must progress in a parallel way and reflect how these lines of research could be complementary.
For instance, Biomimetics is more and more important in the field of energy (for example machines imitating photosynthesis). Plants have an inestimable genetic heritage. Their adaptability to hostile environments is quite remarkable. Their capacities need to be better known and exploited by research in the all domains.
Perceiving plants as subject rather than object requires us to review all societal, economic, philosophical and ethical positions, but above all to change public policy and the individual conscience. It is not a question of stopping progress but of mastering it, by making better use of bio intelligence.
Slaves had no soul, animals had no feelings, plants were inanimate. That was the past; our level of consciousness of the world around us and the ethics it demands of us, have still some way to go.
Protecting or conserving the plant world is essential but this is no longer enough. We must change the paradigm, better understand the plant world and its needs to better cooperate with it, in a perspective of partnership and respect.