Biodiversity and Food Security (Hardbound - 2002)

The value of biodiversity may be judged by considering the economic, ecological, anthropological, recreational and epistemic benefits derived from it. Traditional knowledge, innovations and practices are of importance for the conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of its components with respect to our biological and intellectual heritage.

The topics covered in this book include: Concept of Human Ecology, Biodiversity, Conservation and Sustainable Agriculture; Diverse Women for Diversity; Globalization of Food; Globalization of Agriculture; Biological and Intellectual Heritage Protection; Status of Plant Genetic Resources; Conservation and Utilization in Asia — Pacific Region; Ecology and Technological changes; Gender and Society in India; Status of India's Health and Healing.

This publication is an attempt to take appropriate action at all levels for a change in human values and behaviour towards the holistic environmental ethics for better and safe future of mankind. The integration of environment and development concern necessarily requires global co-operation to achieve the goal of sustainable development not only in agriculture but also in the entire national economy.

Dr. (Mrs.) Shashi Kumar received her Master of Science degree from Christ Church College, Kanpur (1965), and her Ph.D. from the University of Delhi, India (1977), on foliar studies. She has 33 years of teaching experience in Botany and Applied Botany. She has received fellowship to carry out her work at the Floriculture and Bulb Research Center (LBO), Lisse, the Netherlands; Training in Rural Extension and Teaching (TREAT) and Training in Woman Extension Workers and Agriculture (WEA), Deventer, the Netherlands; and a course on Farming System Development in Germany. Her Post-Doctorate research is related to induction of appropriate technology package in improving life support systems for small, marginal and landless women farmers of India. She has executed 22 projects funded by national and international agencies. She is the author of several National and International publications.

She was a special invitee from India to present a paper on “Vegetarian diets in India” at NASA Johnson Space Centre, Houston, Texas, USA in 1994. Later in 1997 she attended the Conference on “Nutrition and Food Concerns of Long Term Space Travel” organized by NASA & NJ-NSCORT at University of Houston, Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, Texas, USA. In 1999 she made a country presentation on “A System Approach for Income Generation for Farm Women” at 10th Biennial International Congress of Asian Regional Association for Home Economics, ARAHE 99, Pacifico Yokohama, Yokohama Japan.