Neglected and Underutilized Crops

Neglected and Underutilized Crops: Future Smart Food explores future food crops with climate resilience potential. Sections cover their botany, nutritional significance, global distribution, production technology, and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses of neglected and underutilized crops. By simply changing species in a crop rotation system, the cycle of some pests and diseases is disrupted and probabilities of infestations are reduced. Finally, the book provides case studies that highlight where the adaptation of crops to local environments, especially with regard to climate change, have been successful.

These crops can help make agricultural production systems more resilient to climate change. Although a few books on neglected and underutilized crops are available, this comprehensive book covers the full scope of crop husbandry, nutritional significance and global distribution.

Author Biography

Professor Muhammad Farooq is an experienced professional with more than 17 years of blended experience in research, teaching, training, industry, and project management across the globe and has visited over 25 countries for various professional activities including USA, UK, European countries, China, Pakistan, Turkey and the Gulf region. He holds PhD in Mechanical Engineering degree from Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh, United Kingdom. Dr. Farooq is the author of over 150 leading international research articles and his work has been cited more than 3,700 times. He is recognized among the top 2% scientists worldwide, according to the list issued by Stanford University, USA, and Elsevier/Scopus. He is a strong advocate for net-zero and carbon-neutral initiatives for sustainable environmental applications through SDGs and collaborating with more than 20 countries for various professional engagements related to research and development.

As an Editor, Dr. Farooq has handled more than 500 research articles for renowned journals and international conferences, including Journal of Carbon Research (Q1), npj Thermal Science and Engineering (Springer Nature), Discover Sustainability (springer nature-Q2), The Journal of King Saud University – Engineering Sciences (Elsevier-Q1), Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology (Q1), Frontiers in Energy Research Journal (Q2), Sustainability Journal (MDPI-Q1), ChemEngineering Journal (MDPI- Q2), Chemistry Journal (MDPI- Q2), Energies Journal (MDPI-Q1), Processes Journal (MDPI-Q2), Journal of Agriculture (MDPI-Q1), Journal of Energy and Environment (SAGE- Q2), and the Pakistan Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He has served as a volunteer and recognized reviewer for leading international journals and top-notch conferences, having reviewed over 1,000 research papers and received recognition awards from prestigious publishers such as Elsevier, Springer, SAGE Publishing, MDPI, and the Taylor & Francis Group.

Dr. Farooq has received numerous highly competitive international grants and awards including Faculty Research Grant, NRPU HEC Research Project Award, UK Alumni Award by British Council, Best Paper Award by Institute of Engineers Pakistan, British Council Pak-UK Education Gateway Award for faculty exchange, Neilson Research Award, EU-CO2-TRIP Project funded by Marie Curie for Clean Coal Energy Generation, UK ADNET Research Grant, UK BBSRC and Faculty Development Scholarship. He has conducted various international training sessions as a resource person and frequently serves as a chair of technical sessions, conference secretary, member of technical committees, organizer, and invited keynote speaker at world-renowned international conferences, summer schools, and professional meetings related to energy systems.