Projections of regional and crop-specific impacts of anthropogenically induced climate change present a bleak picture. With the exception of agricultural land in higher latitudes and elevated altitudes, altered temperature and rainfall patterns are likely to depress yields at a time of difficulty in matching food supply to population growth. Elevated carbon dioxide levels will only partially offset the adverse effects of other environmental factors. Regardless of climate change issues, global food security is reliant on greatly improved agricultural productivity in an era of urbanisation, rising energy and other input costs, policy interference, reduced spending on agricultural research and development, loss of arable land, pollution, competition for water supplies, non-food cropping, changing diets and challenges from ever-adapting weeds, pests and diseases.

This substantial and pricey volume comprises a total of 38 separately referenced well-written chapters (presented as 29 with three unnecessarily sub-divided early chapters), seven supportive forewords, information about the editors and contributors, preface and an index. Starting with an overview of climate change, population growth and crop production, the chapters cover agroecological and physiological factors, regional impacts and then deal with specific crops, germplasm diversity, underutilised species, wild relatives and transgenic innovation, energy crops and a final chapter on research from the past to the future. Plant breeding and genetics clearly underpin progress. The topic demands a multi-author approach, and this book is an important contribution to addressing food security, although more emphasis could have been given on weeds, pests, diseases, agrochemicals, and engineering developments.