This book brings together 35 contributions on a wide range of aspects of vermiculture from different parts of the world. Interest in this subject has increased in recent years, because the drive for recycling has become a more important subject due to increase in world population, and newly introduced legislation, e.g. stopping the deposition of slurry at sea.

The development and commercialisation of the use of earthworms to break down organic waste over the last 50 years has been documented. The different techniques used in vermiculture and their advantages of both composting and vermicomposting are highlighted. The topics covered include the choice and discovery of new species used for vermicomposting and the interactions between earthworms and microbes in the decomposition process. There are three chapters on the pros and cons of different vermicomposting systems followed by other chapters on the use of vermicompost (or solutions derived from it) as soil amendments to suppress pathogens and pests of both plants and humans. There are also chapters concerned with how earthworms can accumulate heavy metals and how they can improve soil quality and crop yields. The potential use of earthworms in the pharmaceutical industry as well as animal feeds is also highlighted.

The last 11 chapters relate to advances in vermiculture in different parts of the world.

This is a well-written readable book, which brings together different aspects of vermiculture from throughout the world and should be read by anyone interested in how earthworms can be exploited for the benefits of humankind.