Having a laudable stated focus on leadership issues needed to ensure global food sustainability, and giving recognition to the roles of research and development, government, universities, processing and distribution, this small book adopts an approach and terminology much admired by management and leadership consultants but sometimes intensely irritating when managing innovative scientists.

Even though it is entirely centred on institutions in the USA, and, with the exception of Monsanto, public-sector bodies, it correctly identifies the pivotal role of character in leadership. Those outside the USA will look in vain for leadership features and guidance when dealing with enforced rapid closure of whole institutions, mass redundancies, perpetual financial turbulence, constant political and civil service interference affecting modes of operation and objectives, imposed staff codes and so-called ‘performance indicators’, aggressive trade unions and pressure groups.

Most of the text concerns nine case studies followed by a chapter on lessons learned from these case studies. A chart summarising the case studies and 27 essential and important attributes of leadership is highly debatable. Most disappointing at the end is the curt description of the agricultural and related environments facing future agricultural leaders, surely integral to the selection of these leaders.