Plant Scientists in Europe are represented by two independent organisations. FESPB (Federation of European Societies of Plant Biologists) is the umbrella organisation of 27 national botanical societies in Europe, representing more than 24,000 individuals and has in addition several corporate members from the European industry. EPSO (European Plant Science Organisation - www.epsoweb.org) unites more than 220 research institutions and universities from 30 countries representing over 28,000 individuals and over 3,000 personal members. In addition EPSO cooperates with national learned societies, and it has NGOs and companies as observers.

For the first time, both organisations agreed to hold a joint Plant Biology Congress in 2012 at the University of Freiburg, Germany. This congress highlighted all aspects of plant biology, with special emphasis on the consequences of global climate change and on feeding the global world population.