In this informative and thought-provoking book on international plant breeding and biotechnology the author blends history, science and socio-economics. In looking at the past and future of global agriculture, the roles and contributions of the public and private sectors are scrutinized and the so-called agbiotech revolution, especially the development and management of transgenic or GM crop varieties, is critically examined. In doing so the author exposes the exaggerations of all those involved in the GM debate. A strong case is made for a more balanced approach in crop improvement both within and between the public and private sectors. Whilst the book is international in its scope, the chapter on public sector breeding in the UK is mainly confined to events in England and Wales

There are six parts: The science of plant breeding (three chapters); The social context of plant breeding (three); Turmoil and transition: the legacy of the 1980s (four); The agbiotech paradigm (three); Increasing global crop production: the new challenges (two); Plant breeding in the twenty-first century (three); followed by a set of Conclusions and Recommendations. Additionally, there are lists with nomenclature and terminology; abbreviations and glossary; an up-to-date, comprehensive set of references, which also provides web-links to articles available on-line; and a set of more than 900 notes.

This book deserves a wide readership that includes government, academic and commercial company policy makers, plant breeders and geneticists, agronomists, conservationists, biotechnologists, economists, advisors to government departments and charitable trusts involved in aid to developing countries.