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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.

  • 3D Printing of Food Products for Sustainability

    Innovation, Design and Applications
    • 1st Edition
    • Chaudhery Mustansar Hussain + 1 more
    • English
    3D Printing of Food Products for Sustainability: Innovation, Design and Applications provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in 3D printing technology as applied to food production, with a focus on sustainability. Divided in 5 parts, the book blends theoretical insights with practical guidelines and real-world case studies to equip readers with a deep understanding of sustainable additive manufacturing processes in the food industry. It addresses the urgent need for innovative approaches to food manufacturing that prioritize environmental stewardship, resource efficiency, and sustainability. The book also offers a detailed exploration of the intersections between 3D printing technology and sustainable food production, making it an indispensable guide for those committed to shaping the future of food sustainability.
  • Agricultural Water Management in Africa

    Lessons Learned and Future Directions
    • 1st Edition
    • Tafadzwanashe Mabhaudhi + 2 more
    • English
    Agricultural Water Management in Africa presents a comprehensive look at the current state of irrigation development and agricultural water management (AWM) practices across Africa and the Global South. Going beyond just assessment, the book offers actionable guidelines, forward-looking scenarios, and strategic investment plans to help prioritize and implement irrigation and AWM initiatives in the face of climate change.At the heart of Africa’s push for agricultural transformation is the African Union’s (AU) Framework for Irrigation Development and Agricultural Water Management. This framework lays out four key development pathways to drive impactful change in water management across the continent: (i) enhanced water control and watershed management in rain-fed agriculture; (ii) farmer-led irrigation development that empowers local growers; (iii) modernization and expansion of irrigation schemes; (iv) utilization of unconventional water sources for sustainable irrigation.The book maps out the progress and potential of these pathways on a continental scale, showcasing how the AU-IDAWM framework can shape Africa’s water-secure agricultural future. To enrich this perspective, it also draws on case studies from Asia and Latin America, creating space for meaningful South–South knowledge exchange. It thoughtfully examines cross-cutting themes such as the water–energy–food nexus and the circular economy, placing AWM in the broader context of sustainability and climate resilience.Whether you are a policymaker, researcher, practitioner, or development partner, this volume delivers critical insights into how smarter water management can drive agricultural growth, food security, and environmental stewardship in Africa and beyond.
  • Seaweed in Health and Disease Prevention

    • 2nd Edition
    • Joël Fleurence + 1 more
    • English
    Seaweed in Health and Disease Prevention, Second Edition updates knowledge on the therapeutic and functional activities related to algae and their compounds. The book includes a new chapter on the use of seaweed and seaweed products in the current war against viral-based exposures, a result of the massive research effort stemming from the global Covid Pandemic, along with the improvement of the nutritional value of algae via enzymatic or fermentation treatments. These treatments are at the origin of the production of oligosaccharides, presenting interesting biological activities for the human microbiota.Chapter updates on seaweed’s biochemical characteristics such as proteins, lipids, and polysaccharides are also addressed.
  • Nanomaterials–Microbial Interactions for Soil Health, Plant Growth, and Performance

    • 1st Edition
    • Azamal Husen
    • English
    Nanomaterials–Microb... Interactions for Soil Health, Plant Growth, and Performance investigates how engineered nanomaterials interface with soil ecosystems to influence plant health and agricultural sustainability. By leveraging the distinctive surface chemistry, size, and reactivity of these materials, the book analyzes how they modulate soil chemistry, microbial activity, and plant physiology, with implications for growth, resilience, and productivity.Interdi... perspectives from soil science, microbiology, plant biology, and nanoengineering are integrated to evaluate mechanisms of action, exposure routes, and environmental fate. The volume weighs opportunities for enhanced yield and nutrient-use efficiency against risks to soil health, biodiversity, and food safety, while also discussing regulatory frameworks and scalable strategies for real-word farming systems and food value chains.Aimed at researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers across academia, government, and industry, Nanomaterials–Microb... Interactions for Soil Health, Plant Growth, and Performance serves as an authoritative platform for future-oriented thinking that bridges discovery and deployment aligned with global environmental stewardship goals across diverse agroecosystems.
  • Paraprobiotics, Postbiotics and Psychobiotics in Foods

    From Concept to Validated Application
    • 1st Edition
    • Annamalai Manickavasagan + 1 more
    • English
    Commonly used and associated with gut health and nutrition, the rapidly growing field of 'biotics' a collective term for probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, parapostbiotcs and more, is constantly being challenged for its validity of health applications and its adaptation into the food industry for therapeutic benefits in functional products. Paraprobiotics, Postbiotics and Psychobiotics in Foods: From Concept to Validated Application is a gateway for readers to focus on the broad insights of the biotic arena to establish foundational understanding. Divided into three sections, one for each of the major topics, Paraprobiotics, Postbiotics and Psychobiotics in Foods: From Concept to Validated Application treats each individually but consistently, and gives readers an introduction to emerging concepts and how ‘biotics’ are being used in the development of health promoting and therapeutic functional food products. Each section begins with an introductory chapter that defines mechanisms of action, sources and health benefits, and is followed by the associated potential application of these components in food products. Sections conclude with detailed information on the regulatory, technical and quality control aspects associated with such food products. This book gives readers a better understanding and acceptance of ‘biotics’ used for functional foods.
  • Digital Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems

    • 1st Edition
    • Tarek Ben Hassen + 1 more
    • English
    Digital Technologies for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems offers a comprehensive review of digital technology's role in supporting sustainable agriculture and food systems. The book explores how digital technologies like precision agriculture, robots, artificial intelligence, and blockchain may boost agricultural output and efficiency while lowering environmental impact. It also investigates how these technologies might assist farmers in connecting with markets, increasing supply chain traceability, and boosting food safety and quality. Serving as a comprehensive guide, this book educates and helps farmers, policymakers, researchers, industry professionals, and other value chain actors in leveraging digital innovations. It also address the pressing challenges faced by the agri-food sector, such as food insecurity, environmental degradation, natural resources depletion, and climate change.
  • Bovine Colostrum as a Nutraceutical

    Developments in Processes and Products for Therapeutic and Dietary Applications
    • 1st Edition
    • Rahul Mehra + 3 more
    • English
    Bovine colostrum is being touted by medical professionals, nutritionists, and food product developers worldwide for its ability to optimize health and help manage disease. Scientists are becoming increasingly intrigued by its nutrient-dense, immune-boosting properties. Bovine Colostrum as a Nutraceutical: Developments in Processes and Products for Therapeutic and Dietary Applications takes a closer look at every facet of a cow’s first milk—from composition to consumption—and discusses how its nutritional and hyper-immune properties are frequently used in food-pharma worldwide. Comprised of 18 chapters, Bovine Colostrum as a Nutraceutical: Developments in Processes and Products for Therapeutic and Dietary Applications elucidates the chemistry, physiological effects and response of nutritional bioactive elements such as peptides while exploring the impact of different environmental, natural, and processing factors that can affect colostrum's composition. Authors discuss emerging colostrum processing methods, as well as the recent technologies, and instrumentation used for isolating and identifying bioactive components for food product development. Readers will also learn colostrum's role in gut, immune and skin health, and how it can enhance muscle growth for improved athletic performance. Safety, efficacy, and regulatory considerations of bovine colostrum and its derivatives are also discussed.
  • Beyond Halal

    Exploring Dietary Preferences, Novel Ingredients and Techniques
    • 1st Edition
    • Amal A. Elgharbawy + 4 more
    • English
    In a world where dietary choices, sustainability and supply chain transparency are becoming increasingly intertwined, Beyond Halal: Exploring Dietary Preferences, Novel Ingredients and Techniques sheds light on the ethical and dietary considerations and challenges that arise in the context of Halal food practices. Written by leading experts of Halal food studies in their respective fields, Beyond Halal: Exploring Dietary Preferences, Novel Ingredients and Techniques not only addresses aspects of sourcing, production, distribution, and certification, but also examines the applications of nanomaterials in ethical and sustainable food production, and explores the use of sustainable aquaculture practices to meet dietary preferences of Halal consumers. The book takes a deep dive into the intersection of molecular gastronomy and health in the context of ethical food production, discusses plant-based innovation in Halal cuisine and examines consumer behavior and preferences in relation to Halal practices. It also discusses the application of blockchain technology in enhancing transparency and integrity in the halal supply chain, while focusing on the impact of consumer choices and ethical considerations.
  • Aflatoxin Management in Crops

    Challenges and Opportunities
    • 1st Edition
    • Sajad Majeed Zargar + 3 more
    • English
    Aflatoxin Management in Crops: Challenges and Opportunities provides a comprehensive look at current insights into aflatoxin contamination in agricultural crops and its effect on human health on global level. With insights from around the globe, it presents the latest advances in the understanding of the contamination and management strategies for aflatoxins in cereals, millets, oilseed, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products. Aflatoxin contamination in crops is a global threat that compromises the safety of food, feed, and also influence the agricultural economy and crop-dependent small scale industries. Crops can be contaminated during the process of harvesting, storing, and transporting by the fungi and leads to the productions of several mycotoxins. Aflatoxin can be extremely harmful if consumed, being linked to cancer-, immune-, and nutritionally related diseases. Aflatoxin Management in Crops: Challenges and Opportunities includes the biology of fungi and the chemistry behind the toxicity level of different aflatoxin strains as well as advances in detection techniques and management strategies. It concludes by exploring the different effects of aflatoxin on human health and regulatory laws to control its contamination.
  • Advances in Agronomy

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 195
    • English
    Advances in Agronomy, Volume 195, the latest release in this leading reference on agronomy, contains a variety of updates and highlights advances in the field. Chapters in this new release include Mapping of soil elements for precision agriculture using neutron-gamma technology, Digital agriculture to transform decision support systems: state of the art and prospects, Nanoparticles: Dual Role in Alleviating Abiotic Stresses and Boosting Nutrient Efficiency for Sustainable Agriculture, Research on soil erosion under natural rainfall in Brazil: A meta-analysis, Implication of sewage sludge use for sustainable soil management: Soil health and carbon sequestration under the EU 'Soil Deal for Europe’, and more.An additional section covers Climate Resilient Sustainable Agriculture To Ensure Global Food Security.