Sustainability Challenges in the Agrofood Sector

Agrofood sustainability is a key word in today s world, and has prompted several novel and impressive research works globally. Communicating lab– or office–generated knowledge to local farming communities is an important part of dealing with the sustainability challenges faced by the agriculture and food sectors.

Sustainability Challenges in the Agrofood Sector presents the core aspects and challenges encountered in the agrofood (or agri–food) sector, with a focus on the future of sustainability. Various multi–disciplinary aspects and a range of topics concerning the impact of environmental or climatic changes on the agriculture and food sectors are discussed, including: the food energy water nexus, supply chain management, food diversification, diet and human health effects, food wastes, sustainable food–processing technologies, food tourism, judicial and regulatory issues and educating consumers on the significance of sustainability. Written by leading experts in the field, each chapter addresses the realities of sustainable agriculture and food systems and discusses novel approaches to address the issues and challenges they throw up.

Sustainability Challenges in the Agrofood Sector is the most up–to–date and complete work published on this topic, providing researchers, graduate students, agri– food scientists, industrial professionals and policymakers with readily accessible reference material.

About the Editor
Dr Rajeev Bhat is currently working as Associate Professor and Head of Food Science Department at the Fiji National University, Fiji Islands. Dr Bhat has nearly 17 years of research experience, gained by working in India, South Korea, Malaysia and Germany. His major theme of research revolves around food security, food safety and sustainable food production.

List of Contributors

Foreword

Preface

Introductory Note: Future of Agro–Food Sustainability

1 Food Sustainability Challenges in the Developing World
Rajeev Bhat

2 The Role of Small Scale Farms and Food Security

3 Sustainability Challenges, Human Diet and Environmental Concerns

4 Sustainable Challenges in the Agro–Food Sector: the Environment Food–Energy–Water Nexus

5 Dynamics of grain security in South Asia: Promoting sustainability through self–sufficiency

6 Local Food Diversification and Its (Sustainability) Challenges

7 Sustainable Supply Chain Management in Agri–Food Chains: A competitive factor for food exporters

8 How logistics decisions affect the environmental sustainability of modern food supply chains: A case study from an Italian large scale–retailer

9 Strengthening Food Supply Chains in Asia: Challenges and Strategies

10 Revolutionising Food Supply Chains of Asia Through ICTs

11 Sustainability, Materiality and Independent External Assurance: An Exploratory Study of the United Kingdom s Leading Food Retailers

12 Environmental sustainability of traditional crop varieties: Reviewing approaches and key issues for a multilevel evaluation

13 Cradle–to–Gate Life Cycle Analysis of Agricultural and Food Production in the US: A TRACI Impact Assessment

14 Ensuring Self Sufficiency and Sustainability in Agro–food sector: Sustainability Challenges in Agriculture and Modeling

15 Sustainability Challenges, Chemical Residues and Agriculture

16 Sustainability Challenges Involved in Use of Nanotechnology in Agro–Food Sector

17 Sustainability of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods

18 Innovation and Sustainable Utilization of Seaweeds as Health Foods

19 Agro–Foods for Sustainable Health Benefits and Their Economic Viability

20 Sustainability Challenges in Food Tourism

21 Diversification, Innovation and Safety of Local Cuisines and Processed Food Products: Emerging Issues and the Sustainability Challenges

22 Soil Health, Crop Productivity and Sustainable Challenges

23 Analyzing the Environmental, Energy and Economic Feasibility of Biomethanation of Agri–Food Waste: A Case Study from Spain

24 Agricultural Wastes for Promoting Sustainable Energy

25 Membrane Technology in Fishery Processing Waste Utilization: Some Insights on Sustainability

26 Sustainability Issues, Challenges and Controversies Surrounding the Palm Oil Industry

27 Sustainability Challenges in the Coffee Plantation Sector and Confronts Along the Production Chain

28 Food Safety Education: Training Farm Workers in the US Fresh Produce Sector

29 Sustainability Challenges and Educating People Involved in the Agro–Food Sector

Index