Preface

Cassava is a woody perennial shrub that grows in tropical and subtropical regions of the globe and has an edible root. Cassava originated in tropical America, was first introduced to sub-Saharan Africa, and subsequently spread to other regions of the world, including tropical Asia. It contains countless carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. However, nutrient composition varies depending on the age and type of the harvested crop, as well as climate, soil conditions, and other environmental factors present during cultivation. In light of these facts, cassava is a significant crop in terms of providing energy and nutrition as human food or animal nourishment as well as a resource for multiple industries. Additionally, cassava is significant for food security and the circular economy in several countries around the world. Therefore, there is no end to researching and learning about the existence of cassava from various perspectives.

This book focuses on (1) the global perspective of cassava, food security, and the circular economy; (2) biotechnology and soil management; (3) disease control; and (4) the processing of cassava in food, feed, and multiple industries. These are several updates that determine the future of cassava crops and their worth as agricultural commodities in various nations. Without a circular economy and perspective, cassava will cease to exist in many countries as a staple nutrition. Technological intervention updates, including plant biotechnology, disease control, and soil management, are required to ensure sufficient cassava production to meet consumer demand for high-quality products. Lastly, the development of novel foods, feed products, and multiple industries could increase the market value of cassava products. The most critical challenge in the post-harvest cassava industry is the development of new products as part of the diversification process.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the authors who contributed so generously to this book; without them, this endeavor would not have been successful. In addition, I wish to express my appreciation to IntechOpen, with whom I have collaborated on similar projects. This has always been a pleasant experience, and I look forward to collaborating with them in the future on many more initiatives. Finally, I thank Publishing Process Managers Ms. Nika Karamatic and Ana Javor for their invaluable assistance in assembling the materials.

In conclusion, we hope that both scientific and non-scientific communities will find this book helpful for making informed decisions about cassava and perceiving it as a crop that would be advantageous to producing novel foods, feeds, and multiple industries.

> **Andri Frediansyah** Research Center for Food Technology and Processing (PRTPP), National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Yogyakarta, Indonesia

**1**

Section 1

Cassava on Global Perspective

Food Security and Circular

Economy

### Section 1
