• Provides a comprehensive overview of the main crop models developed in North America, Europe, Asia and the Pacific
• Considers how current crop models can be improved with future enhancements, such as the incorporation of genetics
• Details examples of current applications of crop models, focussing on genotype-environment-management (G x E x M) interactions

• Provides a detailed overview of the range of techniques and treatments used to optimise safety at the pre-harvest and postharvest stages of egg production
• Outlines key shell egg quality standards and ways of meeting quality requirements
• Considers the environmental impact of egg production systems and how these can be better optimised to improve sustainability

• Reviews the range of techniques for measuring soil biological activity, including DNA-based, quantitative PCR and enzyme assay methods
• Combines coverage of soil microorganisms with assessment of micro-, meso- and macrofauna
• Shows how biological indicators can be integrated into soil health testing programmes to improve the quality of different soils

• Provides a comprehensive overview of the latest research in grassland science and management
• Includes a selection of case studies which highlight current challenges facing alpine/mountain grasslands, as well as grasslands in Europe and New Zealand
• Discusses recent developments in botanical composition of grasslands, including the design of multi-species swards and herbal leys

With increasing temperatures and an escalation in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, agricultural productivity remains at risk of being compromised. With the food security of millions threatened, there remains a need to develop alternative, sustainable production models which can thrive in the face of climate change.

Advances in plant factories: New technologies in indoor vertical farming reviews the wealth of research on optimising plant factories with artificial lighting (PFALs) as one potential solution to achieving a more sustainable agriculture. The book addresses developments in process monitoring, optimising energy use, as well as adjusting lighting conditions to improve the sensory and nutritional quality of a range of horticultural crops.