This book has been prepared for those seeking a better understanding of the functioning of crop plants, particularly the processes that lead to the genera­ tion of products valued by human beings. The contributors, who are among the world's foremost experts on the important crops upon which humanity depends for food or fibre, address the relevant processes for their specific crop. Currently, the world population is continuing to increase. It is projected to plateau around the middle of the next century, and while there is considerable controversy regarding the population level when this plateau is achieved, most estimates are in the area of 10 000 000 000. At present, there are about 800000000 people in the world who do not have secure access to food. Over the last 50 years various aspects of agricultural research have been combined to increase the output of world crops approximately 2.5-fold. Given the need to feed the increasing population, and to provide better access, it is predicted that during the next 50 years the agricultural research community must repeat this achievement.