'Fluent, persuasive and surely right.' Evening Standard The inside story of the fight for and against genetic modification in food. Mark Lynas was one of the original GM field wreckers. Back in the 1990s – working undercover with his colleagues in the environmental movement – he would descend on trial sites of genetically modified crops at night and hack them to pieces. Two decades later, most people around the world – from New York to China – still think that 'GMO' foods are bad for their health or likely to damage the environment. But Mark has changed his mind. This book explains why. In 2013, in a world-famous recantation speech, Mark apologised for having destroyed GM crops. He spent the subsequent years touring Africa and Asia, and working with plant scientists who are using this technology to help smallholder farmers in developing countries cope better with pests, diseases and droughts. This book lifts the lid on the anti-GMO craze and shows how science was left by the wayside as a wave of public hysteria swept the world. Mark takes us back to the origins of the technology and introduces the scientific pioneers who invented it. He explains what led him to question his earlier assumptions about GM food, and talks to both sides of this fractious debate to see what still motivates worldwide opposition today. In the process he asks – and answers – the killer question: how did we all get it so wrong on GMOs? 'An important contribution to an issue with enormous potential for benefiting humanity.' Stephen Pinker 'I warmly recommend it.' Philip Pullman

Agricultural Internet of Things and Decision Support for Smart Farming reveals how a set of key enabling technologies (KET) related to agronomic management, remote and proximal sensing, data mining, decision-making and automation can be efficiently integrated in one system. Chapters cover how KETs enable real-time monitoring of soil conditions, determine real-time, site-specific requirements of crop systems, help develop a decision support system (DSS) aimed at maximizing the efficient use of resources, and provide planning for agronomic inputs differentiated in time and space. This book is ideal for researchers, academics, post-graduate students and practitioners who want to embrace new agricultural technologies. - Presents the science behind smart technologies for agricultural management - Reveals the power of data science and how to extract meaningful insights from big data on what is most suitable based on individual time and space - Proves how advanced technologies used in agriculture practices can become site-specific, locally adaptive, operationally feasible and economically affordable

This collection features five peer-reviewed literature reviews on crop rotations in agriculture. The first chapter discusses the effects of crop rotation and intercropping management practices and their impact on soil health enhancement and stability. It also considers the importance of leguminous crops and soil organic matter in maintaining healthy soils, sustaining crop productivity and enhancing biodiversity. The second chapter examines the principles of crop rotation, precrop effects in crop rotations, and the nutrient effects of legumes and other rotation crops. It also reviews the role of rotation crops in suppressing weeds, diseases and pests and studies rotations and crop yields, as well as the challenge of designing a crop rotation. The third chapter illustrates how crop models account for the interactions between soil, genotypes, management, and climate, on crops grown in various rotations, and their effects on yield and environmental outcomes under current and future climate scenarios. The fourth chapter assesses the potential of decision support systems for crop rotations in improving soil health and agricultural sustainability. The final chapter reviews how crop rotations with non-cereal species can be implemented to substantially reduce inoculum sources for residue-borne cereal leaf diseases. What is an Instant Insight? An Instant Insight gives you immediate access to key research on a topic, allowing you to get right to the heart of a subject in an instant and empowering you to contribute to sustainable agriculture

‘A must-read, accessible and skilful account of South Africa’s socio-economic challenges, policy and governance choices.’– THEMBA MASEKO All the numbers on South Africa’s crisis dashboard are blinking red. The economy is failing to grow and more and more young people find themselves on the outside looking in as education falters and jobs disappear. Energy and transport are in crisis. Governance is floundering as debt mounts and government runs out of money. Better Choices is a collection by South Africa’s top thinkers on the political economy, providing an unflinching account of the myriad challenges the country faces. The picture that emerges is of a nation on the brink of a catastrophic slide into failure unless better, if tough, policy choices are made. As stark as these problems are, their solutions are tantalisingly close at hand. The chapters in this book outline exactly the solutions – those ‘better choices’– that need to be made by leadership to alter the country’s bleak trajectory. South Africa cannot talk its way out of trouble. Key to success is removing the sources of friction – the red tape, over-regulation and rents – that slow down investment. This is only possible if a more effective, focused government acts decisively. Compiled by The Brenthurst Foundation, Africa’s leading think tank on economic development, Better Choices is for those who want to build a positive, inclusive future for South Africa.

*Homesteading Haven* Discover the essence of self-reliant living and prepare to transform your aspiration into a tangible reality with "Homesteading Haven," your comprehensive guide to establishing a flourishing homestead. This eBook serves as a beacon for those yearning to embark on a journey filled with independence, sustainability, and harmony with nature. Begin by defining your homesteading dreams in Chapter 1, where you'll lay the foundation for your adventure, crafting a vision that resonates with your personal goals and desires. Then, arm yourself with the knowledge to prepare for this exciting transition, with Chapter 2 guiding you through essential skills and resources that will ensure your success. Dive into the core considerations of selecting the perfect plot for your homestead in Chapter 3. You'll compile a checklist of spatial needs, must-have features, and a wishlist that aligns with your homesteading objectives. Chapter 4 empowers you with a financial blueprint, helping you navigate costs and uncover ways to finance your sustainable lifestyle without breaking the bank. Understand the complex interplay between ambitions and regulations in Chapter 5, uncovering the legal groundwork and incentives that will shape your homesteading journey. With the strategies outlined in Chapter 6, you'll master the art of unearthing the ideal homestead property using a mix of modern tools and time-honored networking techniques. Quality land assessment takes center stage in Chapter 7, where you'll learn the importance of soil health, terrain, and accessible water resources. Infrastructure and accessibility are the focus of Chapter 8, ensuring that your homestead’s foundations are as sturdy as your determination. Embrace the climate's influence on your homestead in Chapter 9, and immerse yourself in the local ecosystem to promote a biodiverse paradise in Chapter 10. From the ground up, assess your land's agricultural potential in Chapter 11, and prepare to turn your green dreams into sustainable, edible schemes. As your journey progresses to making an offer in Chapter 13, feel confident in your negotiating skills, and bask in the achievement of closing the deal. Chapters 14 and 15 will guide you through laying out and cultivating your new homestead, from efficient designs to DIY projects that will set the stage for lifelong learning and growth touched on in Chapters 16 and 17. Finish with a dose of motivation in Chapter 18, where inspiring case studies from various homesteads will infuse you with creativity and the perseverance needed to overcome any challenge. Embrace this chance to craft your own slice of paradise with "Homesteading Haven." Your guide to a resilient and enriching lifestyle is just a click away – and the seeds of your homesteading dreams are ready to bloom.

“All marketers should heed [the] advice” of this brand marketing guru in his latest book on digital storytelling.” —Joseph V. Tripodi, former Chief Marketing Officer, Subway and Coca-Cola Stories are orders of magnitude which are more effective than facts at achieving attention, persuading, being remembered, and inspiring involvement. Signature stories?intriguing, authentic, and involving narratives?apply the power of stories to communicate a strategic message. Marketing professionals, coping with the digital revolution and the need to have their strategic message heard internally and externally, are realizing that a digital strategy revolves around content and that content is stories. Creating Signature Stories shows organizations how to introduce storytelling into their strategic messaging, and guides organizations to find, or even create, signature stories and leverage them over time. With case studies built into every chapter, organizations will realize the power of storytelling to energize readers, gain visibility, persuade audiences, and inspire action.

Harnessing evolution for more sustainable agriculture As human populations grow and resources are depleted, agriculture will need to use land, water, and other resources more efficiently and without sacrificing long-term sustainability. Darwinian Agriculture presents an entirely new approach to these challenges, one that draws on the principles of evolution and natural selection. R. Ford Denison shows how both biotechnology and traditional plant breeding can use Darwinian insights to identify promising routes for crop genetic improvement and avoid costly dead ends. Denison explains why plant traits that have been genetically optimized by individual selection—such as photosynthesis and drought tolerance—are bad candidates for genetic improvement. Traits like plant height and leaf angle, which determine the collective performance of plant communities, offer more room for improvement. Agriculturalists can also benefit from more sophisticated comparisons among natural communities and from the study of wild species in the landscapes where they evolved. Darwinian Agriculture reveals why it is sometimes better to slow or even reverse evolutionary trends when they are inconsistent with our present goals, and how we can glean new ideas from natural selection's marvelous innovations in wild species.