Two major challenges to continued global food security are the ever increasing demand for food products, and the unprecedented abiotic stresses that crops face due to climate change.Wild relatives of domesticated crops serve as a reservoir of genetic material, with the potential to be used to develop new, improved varieties of crops. Crop Wild Relative and Climate Change integrates crop evolution, breeding technologies and biotechnologies, improved practices and sustainable approa...

Based on the 2014 'Enhanced Genepool Utilization ? Capturing wild relative and landrace diversity for crop improvement' conference , in this book a team of international contributors address all aspects of utilization and conservation of crop wild relative (CWR) and landrace (LR) diversity for crop improvement. Focussing on characterisation techniques, conservation strategies, facilitating CWR and LR use and informatics development, this book highlights exotic plant germplasm as a potentia...

Covers both in-situ and ex-situ strategies for conserving and exploiting plant genetic diversityParticularly strong coverage of in-situ and on-farm techniques, including collection and management of wild plant populations, community-based conservation strategies, participatory plant breeding programmes and seed systems to ensure farmer access to improved varietiesCovers improvements in characterising, evaluating and safe exchange of germplasm to accelerate crop br...

Genetic erosion, that is, the loss of native plant and genetic diversity has been exponential from the Mediterranean Basin through the Twentieth century. This careless eradication of species and genetic diversity as a result of human activities from a 'hot-spot' of diversity threatens sustainable agriculture and food security for the temperate regions of the world. Since the early 1900s there has been a largely ad hoc movement to halt the loss of plant diversity and enhance its utilisation...

* Provides specific examples of germplasm research related to climate change threats * Edited by internationally renowned experts in the field * The final chapter of the book draws a synthesis of the many issues raised within the book

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management. It uses natural predators, pest-resistant plants, and other methods to preserve a healthy environment in an effort to decrease reliance on harmful pesticides. Featuring forty chapters written by leading experts, this textbook covers a broad and comprehensive range of topics in integrated pest management, focused primarily on theory and concepts. It is complemented by two award winnin...

This report updates the global assessment provided in the first report on The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, published in 2007. It focuses particularly on changes that have occurred during the period since the first report was published. It serves as a basis for a review, and potential update, of the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources, which since 2007 has provided an agreed international framework for the management of livestock bio...

The bestselling environmental health text, with all new coverage of key topicsEnvironmental Health: From Global to Local is a comprehensive introduction to the subject, and a contemporary, authoritative text for students of public health, environmental health, preventive medicine, community health, and environmental studies. Edited by the former director of the CDC's National Center for Environmental Health and current dean of the School of Public Health a...

Climate change represents an unprecedented challenge to the world's biosphere and to the global community. It also represents a unique challenge for plant health. Human activities and increased market globalization, coupled with rising temperatures, has led to a situation that is favourable to pest movement and establishment. This scientific review assesses the potential effects of climate change on plant pests and consequently on plant health. The evidence assessed strongly indicates that...

This study, prepared within the ambit of The State of the World's Forest Genetic Resources, reviews issues related to the development of indicators for tree genetic diversity. It includes a historical account of the development of science-based indicators for tree genetic diversity that embrace ecological surrogates for genetic diversity, the genealogical approach, genetic monitoring of management units, the use of molecular markers, as well as relevant experience from other organisms and ...

Climate change is no longer merely projected to occur in the indeterminate future. It has already begun to be manifested in the weather regimes affecting agroecosystems, food production, and rural livelihoods in many regions around the world. It is a real and growing challenge to the world at large and in particular to the scientific community, which is called upon with increasing urgency to respond effectively.The second volume in the ICP Series on Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation, and ...

The State of the World's Forest Genetic Resources addresses the conservation, management and sustainable use of forest tree and other woody plant genetic resources of actual and potential value for human well-being in the broad range of management systems. This report complements two other FAO flagship publications in the field of forestry, the annual State of the World's Forests and the periodic Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA). State of the World's Forests reports on the status o...