Taxol(R) (paclitaxel) has been hailed by many as the most promising new cancer treatment in two decades. The FDA requires that paclitaxel intended for human consumption be obtained only from the bark of Taxus brevifolia, the Pacific yew. As this may become increasingly uneconomical, new strategies must be explored to ensure the continued availability of taxol and related molecules. This article examines the planning that must be engaged in and the contingencies that must be prepared for in this changing arena.