Energy Crops RSC [Hardcover]

This book is a comprehensive reference for energy crops from the plant perspective with expert authors for each crop. Of particular importance are the chapters covering the sustainability aspects (social, economic and environmental), including food security. The chapters from representatives of the plant breeding and biofuel industries give an industrial perspective on the development of energy crops - why they have 'come of age' from a business point of view, the economics and the potential. They also describe how industry expects the sector to develop, with a wish-list of crop improvements that industry would like to see. The book is aimed at undergraduate and MSc courses covering bioenergy, climate change or environmental sciences and will also be of interest to those developing policy on bioenergy production.This book is a comprehensive reference for energy crops from the plant perspective with expert authors for each crop. Of particular importance are the chapters covering the sustainability aspects (social, economic and environmental), including food security.The last few years have seen the concept of bioenergy and biofuels come of age. Rising oil prices have lead to more food crops being grown for energy as well as food. This has created controversy by adding to the upward pressure on crop commodity prices that was already being created by the increasing demand for food from an expanding population. More attention has, therefore, focussed on meeting the rising demand for bioenergy and biofuels in more sustainable ways. A wider range of crops is being explored, including non-food crops, as well as the use of crop residues rather than grain or seed. Energy Crops is a comprehensive reference source which looks at this topic from the plant and agricultural science perspective. It covers energy crops that are already in use and those that are being developed or researched. Species that have been cultivated by humankind for millennia, and some that have never beenlÓ`