From worldwide discussions about the limits of agriculture has arisen a powerful vision of sustainable development. Phrases like ‘limitation’, ‘sustainability’, ‘sufficient supply’, ‘fair distribution’ and ‘productivity of resources’ are no longer hindrances but guidelines for a fairer and safer world. ‘Nature's Concept' focuses on biological and ecological principles. On this basis, criteria of action have to be defined in order to determine long‐term economic consequences of agri‐production. The costs of destruction of natural resources, such as reduction of genetic resources, changes to the world climate and soil degradation, are inestimably large. The long‐term effects show the real substance of the agri‐shift and the demands on research. The solution for sustainable agriculture is more than ever a scientific development of ‘tools’ for a sensible management of resources. Gene technology may be an option to reduce the ecological risks of agriculture, especially those of devastating land use. For this purpose, new education programmes with international links and interventions by states are crucial in order to solve conflicts when short‐term interests interfere with long‐term ecological values. The international agri‐centres could have a further impact to guarantee access to new techniques for all countries. Thus agriculture could finally become a major pillar in a fair world order.

Chemical resistance inducers like BTH (S-methyl benzo (1,2,3)-thiadiazole-7-carbothiate) and DCINA (2,6-dichloro isonicotinic acid) activate resistance in barley against powdery mildew (Blumeria graminis f.sp. hordei). Nine BTH induced genes (Bci, barley chemically induced) have been identified in barley (BESSER et al. 2000) which are not responsive to pathogens in contrast to PR-proteins. From two Bci-genes (Bci3: similar to vsp, Bci4: Ca²⁺-binding EF-hand protein), the promoters were isolated. In transient transformation assays using promoter::GFP and promoter::GUS-constructs the functionality of these chemically induced promoters were studied. To identify the minimal promoter and regions with regulatory elements 5’-deletion constructs were used. Additionally, gel mobility shift assays were performed.