Introduction: Sustainable Agriculture II

This second volume of reviews dealing with sustainable agriculture follows on directly from the first. It commences with further reviews on technological approaches to improve sustainability, both in terms of optimizing inputs and management (Bale et al. 2008; Gilligan 2008; Kibblewhite et al. 2008; Shennan 2008; Witcombe et al. 2008) and in terms of mitigating adverse impacts, including those involved in climate change (Firbank et al. 2008; Lal 2008; Smith et al. 2008; Wade et al. 2008). There then follow two reviews relating to the food chain and biosecurity implications of changes in agricultural systems (Smith 2008; Waage & Mumford 2008). The issue concludes with regional reviews relating to the challenges facing Asian countries (Kesavan & Swaminathan 2008), China (Zhao et al. 2008) and Africa (Thomson 2008). Taken in concert with the first issue, we believe that these reviews provide a valuable assessment of the challenges and opportunities facing agriculture in the twenty-first century.