Contents


Preface

Agronomy is a branch of agricultural science that deals with production of crops and soil management. The production of crops will need to increase by 50 percent over the next few decades to fulfil expected demand as the world population is estimated to increase to 9 billion by 2050. The rapidly growing population and the increase in demand for food, feed and fuel will require sustainable agronomic practices to increase crop productivity. Sustainable agronomic practices are important to improve food security in changing climates. Agronomy is closely related to two of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDG-2 (Zero Hunger) focuses explicitly on food by seeking to end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. SDG-13 (Climate Change) calls for urgent actions to combat the negative effects of climate change. The main job of agronomists is to introduce a crop production system through which it makes possible the best use of light, heat, water and soil for sustainable and greater production of crops that are more suitable and resilient to the socioeconomic needs of farming communities, like poverty and hunger alleviation, food security, climate change adaptation and environmental protection.

*Agronomy: Food Security and Climate Change* presents, over six chapters, a comprehensive picture of the importance of agronomy in SDGs. It is designed for students,

We are thankful to all authors who contributed their valuable chapters to this book. We are also extremely grateful to IntechOpen's Author Service Manager Ms. Romina Rovan for helping us to publish this book in excellent form in the shortest possible time. We owe our sincere thanks and gratitude to our families, whose consistent encouragement

**Dr. Amanullah**

Pakistan

Department of Agronomy,

Faculty of Crop Production Sciences, University of Agriculture Peshawar,

and love have been a tremendous impetus for the completion of this book.

researchers, technologists and policy makers.
