Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
Societal Context and the Future of Agriculture

A 2007 assessment of plant breeding and crop improvement; from its origins to present debates on genetically-modified food.

Denis Murphy (Author)

9780521823890, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 30 August 2007

452 pages, 1 b/w illus.
24.4 x 17 x 2.5 cm, 0.92 kg

'… a provocative, uncompromising and valuable book …' Bioscience

This comprehensive 2007 survey of modern plant breeding traces its history from the earliest experiments at the dawn of the scientific revolution in the seventeenth century to the present day and the existence of high tech agribusiness. Murphy tells the story from the perspective of a scientist working in this field, offering a rationale and evidence-based insight into its development. Crop improvement is examined from both a scientific and socio-economic perspective and the ways in which these factors interact and impact on agricultural development are discussed, including debates on genetically-modified food. Murphy highlights concerns over the future of plant breeding, as well as potential options to enable us to meet the challenges of feeding the world in the 21st century. This thoroughly interdisciplinary and balanced account serves as an essential resource for everyone involved with plant breeding research, policy and funding, as well as those wishing to engage with current debates.

Preface
Using this book
Nomenclature and terminology
Abbreviations and glossary
Introduction
Part I. The Science of Plant Breeding: 1. Origins of plant breeding
2. Creating new genetic variation
3. Modern high-tech breeding
Part II. The Societal Context of Plant Breeding: 4. Rise of the public sector: the US pioneers
5. The public sector in the UK
6. Breeding goes global: the Green Revolution and beyond
Part III. Turmoil and Transition: The legacy of the 1980s: 7. Resurgence of the private sector
8. Emergence of a new crop improvement paradigm
9. Decline of the public sector
10. Reaping the consequences
Part IV. The Agbiotech Paradigm: 11. Agbiotech: genes and dreams
12. The future of transgenic crops I. Improving the technology
13. The future of transgenic crops II. Improving the products
Part V. Increasing Global Crop Production: The New Challenges: 14. Feeding the world - fallacies and realities
15. The roles of management, subsidies, and breeding in crop improvement
Part VI. Plant Breeding in the Twenty-First Century: 16. The future of international plant breeding
17. Rebalancing our approach to crop improvement
18. Where do we go from here?
19. Conclusions and recommendations.

Subject Areas: Genetic engineering [TCBG], Biotechnology [TCB], Agriculture & related industries [KNAC]