Agriculture and food production have a large footprint on the landscape globally and compete for space with land for nature conservation. This book explores the competition between the food needs of a growing human population and the conservation of biodiversity as intensified by the emerging use of crops for energy production.

As concern about the impact of greenhouse gas emissions on the climate grows and oil prices increase, energy production from agricultural crops has become a significant industry. At the same time, increase in food demand due to population growth has been accelerated by the rising affluence associated with economic growth in major developing countries, increasing per capita consumption. Consumers are concerned that the price of food will continue to increase sharply as a result of this competition, but a loss of biodiversity may be another major outcome. Drawing on his expertise in plant conservation genetics, the author provides a balanced appraisal of the potential for developing new or improved crops for food or bioenergy production in the context of climate change, while at the same time protecting biodiversity.

Table of Contents:

List of Figures, Tables and Boxes
Preface
Acknowledgements
List of Acronyms and Abbreviations
1) Plants for Food, Energy and the Environment
2) Plant Resources for Food and Fibre
3) Impact of Climate Change on Food and Fibre Production
4) Energy Resources
5) Plant Resources for Bio-Energy and Chemical Feedstock Uses
6) Competition Between Food and Fuel Production
7) Plants, Biodiversity and the Environment
8) Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity
9) Competition Between Agriculture and Biodiversity Conservation
10) Domestication of New Species
11) Options for the Future
References and Further Reading
Index