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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.

  • Nano-Delivering Plant Biostimulants and Anti-Pathogenic Agents

    • 1st Edition
    • June 1, 2026
    • Jen-Tsung Chen
    • English
    Nano-Delivering Plant Biostimulants and Anti-Pathogenic Agents examines the role of nanotechnology in strengthening plant disease resilience. The book examines the development and application of engineered nanoparticles (NPs) in plant protection, emphasizing their capacity to boost plant immunity and target specific pathogens. It also covers the latest breakthroughs in nanoparticle synthesis, characterization, and mechanisms of action in plant–pathogen interactions.The text further explores the integration of nanoparticles with biostimulants, including plant growth regulators (PGRs) and growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs), as well as the emerging use of nanobiofertilizers. It emphasizes how these advanced nanodelivery systems can optimize the efficiency of plant disease management strategies, including pest control and antimicrobial delivery.Finally, the volume addresses key topics such as the use of silver, metalloid, and carbon nanomaterials for disease prevention and plant protection. It also delves into the regulatory and ethical considerations surrounding nano-agrobiotechnolo... offering critical insights into its safe and sustainable application. This book serves as an essential resource for those exploring innovative, nanotechnology-drive... solutions in agriculture.
  • Radiation Spectrum and Plant Metabolism

    Interactions from the Subcellular to the Ecosystem Level
    • 1st Edition
    • June 1, 2026
    • Sumira Jan + 1 more
    • English
    Radiation Spectrum and Plant Metabolism brings together advances in photobiology, biophysics, and metabolite chemistry to illuminate how light shapes plant structure, function, and ecological performance. The volume follows the pathways through which radiation interacts with plant systems, offering an integrated perspective that links subcellular processes to whole‑plant behavior and ecosystem dynamics.Covering the full breadth of plant–light relationships, the book examines the optical properties of leaf tissues, the coordination of photoreceptors and pigments, and the metabolic networks through which plants interpret spectral cues. It outlines how shifts in light quality influence development, stress responses, and the production of secondary metabolites, providing a mechanistic foundation for understanding plant adaptability under both natural and controlled environments.As climate change alters terrestrial and cosmic radiation patterns, a comprehensive view of plant responses has become increasingly critical. This reference resource synthesizes emerging insights into changing spectral regimes, their biochemical and physiological consequences, and the broader implications for plant fitness, crop resilience, and phyllosphere interactions. Later chapters connect these concepts to applied practice, highlighting innovations in horticultural lighting technologies and the measurement techniques that support precision light management.Designed for researchers and advanced practitioners across the plant sciences, Radiation Spectrum and Plant Metabolism offers a rigorous framework for interpreting how variable radiation environments shape biological systems and the metabolic processes that sustain them.
  • Next-Gen Smart Farming

    Integrating AI, IoT, Digital Twin, and Robotics for Cyber-Physical Systems
    • 1st Edition
    • June 1, 2026
    • Annamaria Castrignanò + 3 more
    • English
    Next-Gen Smart Farming presents a thorough, evidence-based assessment of using emerging physical and computerized systems designed to enhance agricultural efficiency. It balances demonstrated benefits with a clear articulation of potential risks.The work surveys the entire pipeline, from sensing technologies and data collection to artificial intelligence and machine learning, spatial analysis, decision modeling, and automation. It highlights how these technologies can strengthen crop monitoring, yield forecasting, and farm management, while it also examines governance, equity, and ethical considerations essential for responsible deployment. Economic, environmental, and social impacts are analyzed, providing a comprehensive framework for evaluating trade-offs and outcomes in real-world contexts.Framed as an interdisciplinary resource, the volume equips researchers, industry practitioners, extension specialists, and policymakers with practical methodologies, metrics, and narratives needed to implement scalable digital agriculture solutions that improve productivity, resilience, and sustainability across diverse real-world settings.
  • Nanoscience and Nano-Formulations for Sustainable Vegetable Crop Production

    • 1st Edition
    • June 1, 2026
    • Azamal Husen
    • English
    Nanoscience and Nano-Formulations for Sustainable Vegetable Crop Production offers a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in nanotechnology to enhance yield, nutritional value, and delivery efficiency in vegetable crops, particularly those with shorter growth cycles.Although nanoscience is already deeply embedded in global food production, especially in cereals and grains, its targeted application in olericulture holds significant potential for strengthening global food security. Effective implementation, however, demands a clear understanding of nanoparticles’ behavior and interactions with plants, ensuring technological progress aligns with safety standards and consumer confidence. This book covers innovations in several key areas of vegetable farming, including nanofertilizers, nanopesticides, and nano-packaging materials, spanning the entire continuum—from seed priming to postharvest management, while also addressing practical dimensions of scalability, farmer adoption, and system integration.Designed for researchers, scientists, and advanced-level students, this resource will serve as a valuable reference for harmonizing productivity, resilience, and sustainability in modern vegetable production.
  • Sustainable Agricultural Waste Management

    Advantages, Challenges, and Further Improvements
    • 1st Edition
    • June 1, 2026
    • Indrajeet Kumar + 3 more
    • English
    Sustainable Agricultural Waste Management presents a thorough and forward-looking examination of the multifaceted challenges and opportunities in managing agricultural waste sustainably. The volume guides readers through the ecological, technological, and socio-economic dimensions of agrowaste, from its impact on soil, air, and water to the latest advances in circular economy strategies, biochar, and nanotechnology-drive... solutions.Expertly curated chapters address the valorization of agrowaste into bioactive compounds, clean energy, and eco-friendly nanomaterials, while also evaluating economic viability, policy frameworks, and regulatory mechanisms. The book’s integrative approach bridges traditional practices with next-generation innovations, offering actionable insights for immediate application and inspiring future research.This essential resource is designed for advanced students, researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and environmental advocates seeking to drive meaningful changes in agricultural systems worldwide.
  • Starch Blends and Their Applications

    Sustainable Packaging Solutions
    • 1st Edition
    • May 1, 2026
    • Rafael Audino Zambelli
    • English
    Starch Blends and Their Applications: Sustainable Packaging Solutions, a new volume in the Applications of Starches in Food and Packaging series, discusses the latest advancements in production techniques and modification strategies for enhancing the functionality and compatibility of starch blends in multicomponent systems. The book presents case studies and real-world applications of starch blends in food processing, biodegradable materials, biomedical applications, and more, showcasing their diverse functionalities and potential benefits. Chapters also address challenges, opportunities, and future trends in starch blends research and development, offering insights into emerging technologies and areas for further exploration.Written by leading experts in the field, this book equips its audience with the knowledge, skills, and insights needed to navigate the complexities of starch blends and harness their potential in diverse applications.
  • Advances in Agronomy

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 197
    • May 1, 2026
    • English
    Advances in Agronomy, Volume 197, the latest release in this leading reference on agronomy, contains a variety of updates and highlights new advances in the field, each written by an international board of authors.
  • Encyclopedia of the Anthropocene

    • 2nd Edition
    • May 1, 2026
    • Michael I Goldstein + 2 more
    • English
    Encyclopedia of the Anthropocene, Second Edition, Four Volume Set, once again provides a topical-based synthesis of the unprecedented rise of humanity’s ecological footprint, the result of exponential population growth, coupled with run-away consumption of the planet’s finite ecosystem services. This new edition captures our current understanding of the actual effects of human population growth on the world’s resources, whether climate change, biodiversity loss, deforestation, soil erosion, poor air quality, or undrinkable water.Since publication of the first edition, the Anthropocene has been even more widely debated among scientists, humanists, conservationists, industry leaders, politicians and others over precisely when it began, what to call it, if it should be an official geological epoch, whether it can be contained in time, and how it will affect future generations. Sustainability has been a growing issue for the Earth's ecosystems in the Anthropocene. Humans are now using up the world's natural resources at an unsustainable rate. This is causing huge problems for the natural ecosystems, agricultural systems, and water supplies, especially in the Global South. Climate change research, through field observation and remote sensing, has enabled improved understanding of its effects, allowing us to project future effects and the adaptation measures they require. These are essential topics - all of which are fully covered in the encyclopedia.Given the high degree of public and media attention on these topics, a revised edition is timely. With over 200 concise and focused chapters written by leading scholars in the field, this reference work is uniquely positioned to make this knowledge accessible to a wide, global audience.
  • Applications in Microwave Processing

    Expanding the Scope beyond Cooking, Benefits and Risks
    • 1st Edition
    • May 1, 2026
    • Olalere Olusegun Abayomi + 5 more
    • English
    Applications in Microwave Processing: Expanding the Scope beyond Cooking, Benefits and Risks provides a comprehensive guide on the principles and recent interest in microwave technology, along with its cross-disciplinary applications. Divided into two sections, the first one discusses the foundation of the principle, emerging applications, and recent interest in microwave technology. The second section explores the cross-discipline applications of microwave technology in different fields, which include bioactive extraction, clinical thermo-therapy, polymer processing, catalytic pyrolysis, thermal sterilization, biopharmaceuticals, wastewater treatment, drying process, mineral processing, and in biological process.Overall, this title discusses the drawback of microwave assisted technology, scalability concerns and outlook. Edited by a team of experts in the field, this book is a great asset for all researchers, Industrial expert, Biotechnologist and all interested in optimal management and usage of microwaves.
  • Harnessing Plant Stimulating Molecules

    Innovations in Stress Biology and Crop Resilience
    • 1st Edition
    • May 1, 2026
    • M. Iqbal R. Khan + 1 more
    • English
    Harnessing Plant Stimulating Molecules serves as a authoritative reference on the multifaceted molecular regulators and biotechnological innovations underpinning plant resilience to environmental stressors. This volume delivers an exhaustive treatment of diverse classes of signaling entities—including phytohormones, secondary messengers, gasotransmitters, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, carbohydrates, lipids, isoprenoids, bioactive peptides, ATP, mitogenic factors, and heterotrimeric G proteins—elucidating their roles in complex stress adaptation pathways.In addition to molecular and biochemical foundations, the book explores advanced methodologies such as nanoparticle-facilit... metabolic modulation, RNA interference mechanisms to optimize nutrient utilization, and the emerging significance of biostimulants in modulating plant-microbe interactions and inter-plant signaling networks. Detailed discussions on systemic signaling mediated by mobile molecules and photoreceptor-mediat... photomorphogenic responses further enrich the scope.Integrating cutting-edge genetic engineering approaches, notably CRISPR/Cas systems, alongside computational modeling for simulating metabolic networks, the volume facilitates accelerated crop improvement strategies essential for addressing contemporary challenges in food security and agro-ecosystem sustainability.Desig... as an indispensable resource for researchers, advanced graduate students, and industry professionals, Harnessing Plant Stimulating Molecules bridges fundamental plant molecular biology with translational biotechnology to foster the development of resilient, high-performance crops tailored for a changing climate.