This volume is a compilation of 21 reviews, ably edited and presented in three parts as Farming Systems, Capture & Use of Resources and Crop Physiology. The parts have 5, 3 and 13 chapter/essays respectively, contributed by 60 authors working in 13 countries, but predominantly in Australia (15) and Argentina (11). Each chapter has an extensive reference set. The scale of the work is such that it will not be read cover-to-cover; agronomists will inevitably concentrate on either their crop or on their own region. Chapter 1 (Sustainable Agriculture) is noteworthy: it outlines the arrangement and scope of the book, and makes outspoken pronouncements (e.g. on perceived, significant deficiencies of organic agriculture and bio-fuels.) The book contains a great deal of useful information, but has a strange index with a confusing dual-alphabetical system; e.g. ‘C’ is subdivided into ‘Canopy’ and ‘Crop Quality’, ‘B’ into ‘Biomass and ‘Breeding’, and so on. ‘Model’, therefore, has to be sought in presumed sections, as there is no ‘M’.

The main message is two-fold:-

• • Whole-crop physiology is invaluable, but currently is grossly neglected in favour of ‘sexier’ sciences

• • (G × E) is dead (well, certainly inadequate in agronomy): long live (G × E × M)!

The implications are that excellent data collection is paramount and modern computerized analysis is essential for unravelling multi-dimensional aspects of cropping.

I commend chapters 1 and 10 for background and a basis for modelling, and as someone developing a (non-food) genus complete with new management system for a non-traditional purpose in unusual agricultural environments, I can vouch that the complexity of growing crops can be best attacked by open minds using multivariate methods. Management interactions clearly bring a further dimension to G and E in advancing knowledge.