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Books in Agricultural and biological sciences

The Agricultural and Biological Sciences collection advances science-based knowledge for the improvement of animal and plant life and for secure food systems that produce nutritious, novel, sustainable foods with minimal environmental impact. Food Science titles include not only those products from agriculture but all other aspects from food production to nutrition, health and safety, chemistry to security, policy, law and regulation. Biological Sciences address animal behaviour and biodiversity, organismal and evolutionary biology, entomology, marine biology and aquaculture, plant science and forestry.

  • Genetic Breeding and Aquaculture of Shellfish

    • 1st Edition
    • Shi Wang + 1 more
    • English
    Genetic Breeding and Aquaculture of Shellfish covers the global status, research advancements, and future trends in shellfish genetic breeding. Addressing the challenges and solutions related to shellfish genetic breeding and aquaculture, this book is structured into two main sections, genetic breeding and aquaculture. Early chapters summarize the basic biology and ecology of shellfish before delving into the theory and research of genetic breeding practices. Latter chapters apply theory to practice, offering practical guidance on mature and novel cultivation models and technical directions for stakeholders and technicians working in shellfish cultivation industries.Readers will find this to be a resource that bridges scientific innovation with practical application to navigate the progress of shellfish aquaculture in the 21st century and contribute to the sustainable development of global aquaculture. It is an essential resource for students, academic researchers, industry scientists, and aquaculture technicians spanning shellfish research and aquaculture sectors.
  • Artificial Intelligence and Food Science

    • 1st Edition
    • Rana Muhammad Aadil + 3 more
    • English
    Artificial Intelligence and Food Science examines a range of applications from pre- and post-harvest management to food packaging and the dairy industry, providing a thorough overview of how AI is revolutionizing these industries. The book's initial chapters introduce the fundamentals of AI and its recent advancements, covering key areas such as Constraint Satisfaction Problems, Adversarial Search, and Statistical Learning Theory. The book then moves on to explore AI applications in pre- and post-harvest management while also highlighting techniques such as machine vision and spectral imaging for non-destructive analysis of agricultural products.The role of AI in the fat and oil processing industry, specifically the use of bioinformatics predictive methods based on artificial neural network (ANN) is discussed in detail. Subsequent chapters probe the use of AI in the processing of fruits, vegetables, dairy, and meat, and detail how technologies like neural networks and Industry 4.0 innovations can drive improvements in product quality. Later chapters explore AI applications in the baking and confectionery industries, with a focus on automation and 3D printing technologies that are setting new standards for production and product design.
  • Beer in Health and Disease Prevention

    • 2nd Edition
    • Victor R. Preedy
    • English
    Just as wine in moderation has been proposed to promote health, research is showing that beer – and the ingredients in beer – can have similar impact on improving health, and in some instances preventing disease. Beer in Health and Disease Prevention, 2nd Edition addresses both the benefits and concerns associated with consumption of beer and beer ingredients on cancers, cardiovascular disease, antioxidant benefits, and other health related concerns. It offers a holistic view from beer brewing to the isolation of beer-related compounds.Beer in Health and Disease Prevention, 2nd Edition continues to be the single most comprehensive volume needed to understand beer and beer-related science. Presenting both the concerns and problems of beer consumption as well as the emerging evidence of benefit, this book offers a balanced view of today's findings and the potential of tomorrow's research. This is an essential reference for researchers studying alcoholic beverages, beer brewing, nutrition, and public health. Dieticians and clinicians, as well as those working in the beer brewing industry, will also benefit from this invaluable resource.
  • Science and Technology of Fruit Wine Production

    • 2nd Edition
    • Maria R. Kosseva + 2 more
    • English
    Science and Technology of Fruit Wine Production, Second Edition comprehensively covers non-grape wines while also updating on the most recent scientific developments in their production. Topics covered include how fruit wines have shown great evolution in terms of the diversity and cultivation of fruits used, innovations in fermentation, techniques for flavor improvement, and new knowledge about the nutritional value of some of the components found in these beverages. Additionally, chapters on environmental impact and sustainability, consumer preferences, and regulatory aspects of fruit wines are included, making this a must-have, interdisciplinary resource for those in applicable fields and industries.
  • Guide to Plant Transcription Factors

    • 1st Edition
    • Aryadeep Roychoudhury
    • English
    Guide to Plant Transcription Factors is the first comprehensive resource on the dynamics of transcription factor function in plants, covering their roles in process regulation, stress management, post-translational modification, and epigenetic control. The book explores how transcription factors can be manipulated or engineered for crop improvement, offering insights into their regulatory mechanisms and practical applications.Transcr... factors bind to upstream regions of target genes and recruit additional proteins, often facilitating chromatin remodeling to enable further binding. They play critical roles in diverse physiological processes, including seedling development, shoot and root growth, flowering, fruit ripening, seed maturation, nitrogen fixation, and photosynthesis. Plant transcription factors belong to numerous families, each with distinct mechanisms and functions. They also govern plant responses to pathogens and tolerance to abiotic stresses through complex gene regulatory networks.This volume provides a systematic overview of recent advances in transcription factor research, their relationship with stress tolerance, and the roles of individual transcription factors in plant systems. Featuring contributions from leading scientists worldwide, Guide to Plant Transcription Factors is an essential reference for researchers, academics, and advanced students in plant biology and biotechnology.
  • Water Security for Ecosystems

    Metrics and Pathways for a Sustainable Future
    • 1st Edition
    • Amit Kumar + 3 more
    • English
    Water Security for Ecosystems: Metrics and Pathways for a Sustainable Future explores the mechanisms to support sustainable management of aquatic resources during rising global water demand, global change, and population growth. By identifying resource consumption indicators such as fishing load capacity and virtual water trade, it sets a clear framework for assessing the ecological footprint of extractive industries. It then proposes pathways to establish largescale water security via integrated aquatic resource management, water-efficient technologies, and sustainable policy intervention. Throughout, the book acknowledges the increased strain placed on global aquatic ecosystems due to unsustainable water use, extractive fisheries, agricultural practices, and more. Written by a renowned team of water resource managers, early chapters in this book define ecological footprints and explore the global policies, industries, and climate forces driving water insecurity. Central chapters explore novel and innovative water conservation techniques, advances in water resource management, and emerging technologies for sustainable water use. Final chapters explore global water policies and the role of international cooperation and propose a roadmap for minimizing aquatic ecological footprints.
  • Smart Engineering Approaches to Food Safety and Shelf Life Extension

    Safer and Fresher Foods
    • 1st Edition
    • Yogesh K. Ahlawat + 2 more
    • English
    Smart Engineering Approaches to Food Safety and Shelf Life Extension: Safer and Fresher Foods covers revolutionary ways we preserve and process food, ensuring its quality, safety, and sustainability. With a comprehensive exploration of cutting-edge technologies, methodologies, and applications, this book addresses the challenges of current food preservation and processing. Readers will find fresh insights and practical knowledge across various disciplines, with an emphasis on innovation, quality, safety, and sustainability. From novel preservation methods to advanced processing technologies, each chapter presents valuable insights into how engineering principles can be leveraged to enhance food safety, extend shelf life, and preserve nutritional quality.Alongside sustainable practices, sections also cover high-pressure processing, pulsed electric fields, novel packaging materials designed to minimize spoilage and contamination, intelligent packaging systems, and process optimization techniques. Authored by leading experts in the fields of engineering and food science, this book uniquely integrates both disciplines to provide a comprehensive understanding of the latest advancements in food preservation and processing technologies.
  • Agroforestry Solutions for Soil Restoration and Sustainable Land Management

    • 1st Edition
    • Ram Prakesh Yadav + 3 more
    • English
    Agroforestry Solutions for Soil Restoration and Sustainable Land Management, a volume in the Agricultural Soil Degradation and Restoration series, offers a rigorous, cross-disciplinary assessment of tree–crop integration as a driver of resilient landscapes and livelihoods around the world. Rooted in edaphic science, agroecology, and development studies, it analyzes contemporary pressures, evaluates viable interventions, and maps forward-looking research avenues. By blending empirical evidence with policy considerations, it demonstrates how diversified, multi-species systems enhance nutrient balance, water regulation, carbon dynamics, and biodiversity, while supporting stable incomes and high-quality food.This essential resource for researchers, educators, and practitioners covers design principles, deployment pathways, governance, extension strategies, and economic analysis, complemented by real-world case studies. Readers will find robust study designs, interoperable data assets, and reproducible workflows that enable scalable decision-making and monitoring. The narrative emphasizes UNCCD targets and climate-smart land use, with clear implications for sustainable intensification and ecosystem stewardship.
  • Starch-Based Materials

    Principles and Applications
    • 1st Edition
    • Ming Miao + 1 more
    • English
    Starch-Based Materials: Principles and Applications explores the cutting-edge research and development of starches as biodegradable, renewable biomaterials addressing urgent environmental concerns associated with non-biodegradable polymers. This comprehensive volume delves into the structural characteristics of starches, recent advances in their physical, chemical, and enzymatic modifications, and emerging technologies that expand their use beyond traditional food applications. It highlights innovative approaches to enhance nutritional value and health benefits, including the design of gluten-free products and specialized foods, while also covering industrial uses such as hydrogels and controlled release systems. Despite extensive prior research on starch packaging and non-food uses, there is a significant gap in current literature regarding modern starch modifications and their multifunctional applications across food, pharmaceutical, medical, and biomaterial fields. This book addresses this gap by providing a timely, authoritative summary of recent scientific findings, aiming to stimulate innovation and sustainable development in starch utilization. It is an essential reference, particularly in courses related to food chemistry, food analysis, nutrition, packaging, pharmaceutical applications, and specialized medical fields such as controlled release technologies.
  • Ethnoscience

    Insights into Nutrition and Cultural Foundations
    • 1st Edition
    • Tanmay Sarkar + 4 more
    • English
    Ethnoscience: Insights into Nutrition and Cultural Foundations, the first book in the series Culinary Synergies: Exploring Nutrition and Science in Gastronomy, a five-book exploration into food education, innovation, and preservation, encompasses everything from flavor chemistry and sensory science to the role of micro- and macronutrients in traditional and culturally specific diets. The book begins with an introduction to the discovery of food through nutrition and cultural identity, discussing modern technological advances such as machine learning, digital tools, and sustainability. It then moves into the culinary traditions of Southeast Asia, where food diversity and ingredient preparation's influence on nutritional value are discussed.Section two highlights Southern Europe, focusing on foraging and the health benefits of fermented foods and more. Finally, section three introduces sustainable and indigenous farming practices in North Africa, along with healing herbs, their medicinal properties, and much more. Each section includes case studies highlighting nutrition, innovation, and health.