Overview

The world relies on very few crop and animal species for agriculture and to supply its food needs. In recent decades, there has been increased appreciation of the risk this implies for food security and quality, especially in times of environmental change. As a result, agricultural biodiversity has moved to the top of research and policy agendas. This Handbook presents a comprehensive overview of our current knowledge of agricultural biodiversity in a series of specially commissioned chapters. It draws on multiple disciplines including plant and animal genetics, ecology, crop and animal science, food studies and nutrition, as well as social science subjects which explore the socio-economic, cultural, institutional, legal and policy aspects of agricultural biodiversity. It focuses not only on the core requirements to deliver a sustainable agriculture and food supply, but also highlights the additional ecosystem services provided by a diverse and resilient agricultural landscape and farming practices. The book provides an indispensable reference textbook for a wide range of courses in agriculture, ecology, biodiversity conservation and environmental studies.

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9780415746922

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Danny Hunter is a Senior Scientist in the Healthy Diets from Sustainable Food Systems Initiative at Bioversity International, Rome, Italy, and is a member of the Healthy Food Systems node, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Australia. Luigi Guarino is currently the Director of Science at the Global Crop Diversity Trust. He has been a consultant to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and worked for the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (now Bioversity International), and for the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (now the Pacific Community) in the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America and the South Pacific. Charles Spillane is the Established Professor (Chair) of Plant Science, and Head of the Plant and AgriBiosciences Research Centre (PABC) at the National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland. Professor Spillane’s Genetics and Biotechnology Lab works on both fundamental and applied research on plant and agricultural biosciences. Peter C. McKeown is a Lecturer in the School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland, and Coordinator of the Masters in Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (MSc.CCAFS).

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