This book examines projections of two key determinants of food security: food production and import capacity of the countries. Domestic food production performance plays the most critical role in food security, particularly for regions like Asia and sub-Saharan Africa that depend on grain supplies. Conversely, imports play a significant role for regions like Latin America and North Africa that depend on positive trade terms.

Maize (Zea mays L.) commonly called corn, field corn, or Indian corn belongs to the Poaceae (Gramineae) family. It grows almost anywhere, although approximately 50% of the world’s maize is produced in the USA. It is one of the 3 major grain crops world-wide and extremely important for human and animal consumption (15 to 56% of total daily dietary caloric intake), food processing and other commercial activities in many developed and developing countries.

Organic fertiliser refers to materials used as fertiliser that occur regularly in nature, usually as a by product or end product of a naturally occurring process. Organic fertilisers such as manure have been used in agriculture for thousands of years; ancient farmers did not understand the chemistry involved, but they did recognise the benefit of providing their crops with organic material.

This book presents an overview of the cultivation of the potato, pointing out some aspects in relation to its production, consumption and importance for consumer health. The aim is to offer a glimpse of the forest rather than the single tree, but not failing to focus on "a few trees".

Rice is one of the most important food crops around the world and feeds over half of the global population. Hence, the study of rice productivity is vital to assuring an adequate food supply for all. In this book, the authors present topical research in the study of the production, consumption and health benefits of rice.

Good animal husbandry practices and animal health are vital for people living in poorer countries. This practical learning manual is a realistic guide for those who are responsible for training farmers in poor countries, taking into account traditional farming systems, existing inputs and resources, sustainable farming initiatives and advising on the right approaches to training. The overall aims are to improve the condition and health of livestock in poor countries and the lives of the people in these countries.

Why have food crises seemingly become more frequent in recent years, compared to the last few decades? This book examines an array of different issues and distortions that are causing food supply chain dysfunction in many countries, particularly for staple non-perishable foods such as grains, oilseeds, pulses and sugar. It outlines the underlying changes that are currently occurring, which will have an influence on the direction of future food supply chains, and provides some solutions to current food security problems.

Combining background knowledge and practical tools, Handbook of Inland Aquatic Ecosystem Management gives you an overview of how to manage inland waters in a holistic manner. It examines the problems that threaten aquatic inland water ecosystems and presents a set of toolboxes for solving them. The book focuses on lakes, reservoirs, ponds, rivers, wetlands, lagoons, and estuaries, including the predominant freshwater ecosystems as well as saline and brackish ecosystems.

As interest has increased in topics such as the globalization of the agrifood system, food security, and food safety, the subjects of food and agriculture are making their way into a growing number of courses in disciplines within the social sciences and the humanities, like sociology and food studies.

The relationship between food and development has always been controversial. Over the last thirty years, development in the north and south has failed to deliver people a decent diet. While some people have too little food and die as a consequence, some people have too much food and die from associated diseases.

This book presents topical research in the study of the characteristics, processes and management of soil fertility in agriculture. Topics discussed include agricultural management changes in Pampean soils related to rotation and tillage; agroforestry systems in the Eastern Amazon; soil and crop management practices in bioenergy cropping systems; evaluation of the potassium supplying abilities of animal manures; nitrogen fertilisation in the modern sustainable farming systems of Moldova; and soil fertility enhancing microorganisms and their application as biofertilisers.

Beef cow-calf farms operate in an industry characterised by large numbers of small farms. Many of these farms specialise in beef cattle production, but farm households on these operations tend to generate more income from off-farm sources, such as wages and salaries or retirement income, than from the farm businesses themselves. This book discusses select research on global beef production and trade including beef production in the United States, Japan and Mexico.