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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.

  • Smart Aquaponic Farming

    An Intelligent Production System for Aquaponics
    • 1st Edition
    • July 1, 2026
    • Daoliang Li
    • English
    Smart Aquaponic Farming: An Intelligent Production System for Aquaponics describes the aquaponics AI factory, an ecologically efficient and sustainable multitrophic production model. While traditional aquaculture systems produce farming waste with environmental and food safety implications, the aquaponics model offers a circular organic production method that recycles and reuses aquatic waste to expand the ecological planting scene. Given recent developments in intelligent sensing, information processing, and agricultural equipment technologies, this book provides a much-needed technical guide for industry scientists and technicians. Written by leading experts in aquaculture biosystems engineering, this book reviews technology assembly, system realization, and industrial development of intelligent aquaponics AI factory models. Early chapters introduce the concept of AI factory infrastructure before exploring recirculating aquaculture systems, hydroponic planting systems, and various control systems to maintain air quality, water quality, and fish nutrition. Concluding chapters discuss AI factory system integration, sustainability evaluation, and global case studies of proof-of-concept systems. Smart Aquaponic Farming provides in-depth conceptual analyses, technical overviews, and case presentations to demonstrate the characteristics, advantages, and significance of industrial scale-up for aquaponics. It bridges the gap in disseminated knowledge on analysis, design, and implementation of aquaponics AI factories, making it an indispensable resource for aquaponics producers, technicians, industry scientists, and academics alike.
  • Science and Technology of Fruit Wine Production

    • 2nd Edition
    • July 1, 2026
    • 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
    • July 1, 2026
    • 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.
  • Natural Gums as a Sustainable Material for Food Packaging and Preservation

    • 1st Edition
    • July 1, 2026
    • Haroon Elrasheid Tahir + 3 more
    • English
    Natural Gums as a Sustainable Material for Food Packaging and Preservation focuses on the characterization, functionality, mechanisms, and processing of natural gum-based packages and its application for food preservation and smart packaging. Sections cover characterization, functionality, formulation, health, and eco-innovations in natural gums followed by global research indicators of gum packages. Additional content explores the application of natural gum and gum-based techniques for the protection of foods, including an evaluation of the potential use of gum-based smart packaging for the detection of food quality and safety in addition to the consumer acceptability of gum packaging.Final content focuses on natural gum package challenges, safety, and associated legislation followed by assessing the future potential of natural gum food packages. Edited by a team of experts in natural gums and food packaging materials, this book prioritizes sustainability and biodegradability by utilizing natural gums as an eco-friendly alternative to protect and indicate the freshness of foods.
  • Smart Engineering Approaches to Food Safety and Shelf Life Extension

    Safer and Fresher Foods
    • 1st Edition
    • July 1, 2026
    • 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.
  • Water Security for Ecosystems

    Metrics and Pathways for a Sustainable Future
    • 1st Edition
    • July 1, 2026
    • 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 in the context of rising global water demand, global change, and population growth. By identifying resource consumption indicators such as fishing load capacity and virtual water trade, this book 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.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.Water Security for Ecosystems acknowledges the increased strain placed on global aquatic ecosystems due to unsustainable water use, extractive fisheries and agricultural practices, pollution, and inefficient governance. Addressing these challenges will necessitate a multidisciplinary approach centered on sustainable water management, strengthened transboundary water governance, responsible consumption policies, and global investment to reduce our aquatic ecological footprint. By integrating science, policy, and community engagement in multidisciplinary management recommendations, this book positions itself as an essential resource for water resource managers, researchers, and policymakers alike.
  • Laboratory Animal Medicine

    • 4th Edition
    • June 12, 2026
    • James G. Fox + 4 more
    • English
    Laboratory Animal Medicine, Fourth Edition—a volume in the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM) blue book series—is the authoritative reference on the biology, health, and care for species involved in research. Edited by recognized veterinary, operational, and research experts and endorsed as the official material for veterinary specialty certification by ACLAM, this work defines the standard for all aspects of humane laboratory animal care and science with animal models.This new edition contains significant changes in content and organization to reflect the evolution of the field. The animal welfare chapter has been moved to the beginning of the book to highlight this subject’s importance. Other chapters have either been consolidated to encourage the reader to recognize commonalities such as those between guinea pigs, gerbils and hamsters, or separated out in recognition of expansions in knowledge and cross-species complexity as illustrated by separate new and old world primate chapters. Advances in practice, technology, and knowledge are highlighted in the chapters on genetically modified organisms, with updates on new techniques in genetic engineering and consideration of non-rodent genetically modified models; microbiological monitoring, with an increased emphasis on environmental monitoring and sentinel free colony health monitoring methods; regulatory compliance, with a comprehensive chapter on birds; employee health and safety, with expanded consideration of compassion fatigue; and animal models in biomedical research, with increased emphasis on experimental design and rigor. New chapters on animal models for microbiome, infectious disease, and transplant research have been added to serve as a reference for the community.This book is an excellent reference for veterinarians and research scientists, as well as program directors and facility managers employed in a variety of academic and corporate settings. This edition continues the tradition of this text in setting standards for the research animal science community as well as expanding and updating relevant and essential topics for this specialty field.
  • River Dolphins and Larger Toothed Whales

    Ridgway and Harrison's Handbook of Marine Mammals, Volume 3
    • 1st Edition
    • June 1, 2026
    • Thomas Allen Jefferson + 1 more
    • English
    Some of the world's most beautiful, intelligent, and highly adapted mammals inhabit our seas and oceans and have stirred the human imagination for many centuries. As our knowledge of marine mammals grows, the need exists for a reliable and complete reference to the ecology and biology of these fascinating creatures. To address this need, the Handbook of Marine Mammals series has been founded. Scientists, conservationists, and informed laypersons alike will be able to find definitive reviews of all the world's living whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea lions, sea cows, and marine otters and bears. Seven volumes cover all the living species of marine mammals.This third volume in the series, River Dolphins and Larger Toothed Whales, consists of species review chapters written by leading global experts on brackish and freshwater dolphin species, as well as larger toothed whales. Each chapter includes a description of the species, followed by sections on distribution and abundance, anatomy, physiology, behavior, ecology, reproduction, parasites and diseases, and the impacts of human activities on the species.
  • Active Food Packaging

    Principles, Technologies and Innovations
    • 1st Edition
    • June 1, 2026
    • Swarna Jaiswal + 2 more
    • English
    Active Food Packaging: Principles, Technologies and Innovations, a volume in the Sustainable Food Packaging series, is a comprehensive guide to the latest developments in active packaging for food products. This book provides an overview of active packaging and its various types, advantages, and challenges, as well as a detailed analysis of different active packaging technologies such as oxygen scavengers, antimicrobial agents, moisture absorbers, and ethylene absorbers. It also covers the latest innovations and applications of active food packaging, including intelligent active packaging, shelf-life extension, food safety and quality control, sustainability, waste reduction, and nanotechnology.With the growing importance of sustainability and increasing demand for understanding the complex principles and technologies involved in active food packaging, this series of books represents a comprehensive guide to navigating this rapidly evolving landscape.
  • Wine in Health and Disease Prevention

    • 1st Edition
    • June 1, 2026
    • Victor R. Preedy
    • English
    Wine in Health and Disease Prevention addresses both the benefits and concerns associated with consumption of wine and wine components, especially related to cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurological health. As the single most comprehensive volume needed to understand the effect of wine on overall health, this is an essential reference for graduate and post-graduate students and researchers studying wine science, nutrition, alcoholic beverages, and public health. Dieticians and clinicians, as well as those working in the winemaking industry, will also benefit from this invaluable resource.This comprehensive volume offers the balanced view necessary to understand the reality of today’s findings and the potential of tomorrow's research in wine and health.