Future Crops: Advances in Genetic Improvement and Sustainable Utilization is a comprehensive reference on underutilized and potential crops and their role in achieving climate-resilient, nutritionally secure and sustainable agricultural systems.. The book discusses climate-resilience achievements, biotechnological approaches and cutting-edge technologies such as genomics, molecular breeding, genome editing, precision agriculture, artificial intelligence, IoT, remote sensing and advanced post-harvest technologies.Special emphasis is placed on crops adapted to marginal, stress-prone, hill and dryland ecosystems, highlighting their potential for crop diversification, nutritional security, livelihood improvement and sustainable low-input agriculture.

The book therefore provides a useful scientific resource for researchers, academicians, students, plant breeders, agricultural scientists, extension professionals, policymakers and others involved in plant genetic resources and future food systems.

Dr. Satish Kumar Yadav is a Principal Scientist and presently serves as Nodal Officer, AICRN on Potential Crops, at ICAR–National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi. He has more than 25 years of experience in plant genetic resources, particularly in their characterization, evaluation, and exchange. He has undertaken more than 50 exploration missions and collected approximately 5,235 accessions of agri-horticultural crops from diverse climatic regions of India. His scholarly contributions include 60 research papers, 2 books, 7 book chapters, 5 extension bulletins, and 68 PGR reporters. He has also contributed to the development of 4 tomato varieties, 2 chilli varieties, and 14 potential crop varieties, along with 6 patents. He is a Fellow of ISPGR, ISST, and ISVS and has received several awards.

Dr. A. Krishnamoorthi holds a B.Sc. (Agriculture) from VIA Agriculture College, TNAU, an M.Sc. (Agriculture) in Plant Genetic Resources from TNAU, and a Ph.D. in Plant Genetic Resources from ICAR–Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi. His academic and scholarly contributions include 6 books, 10 book chapters, 2 research papers, 10 review articles, and 20 popular articles. He secured All India Rank 4 in the ICAR Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) Examination in Economic Botany and Plant Genetic Resources.

Dr. Praveen Kumar Singh is Head of the Division of Plant Exploration and Germplasm Collection at ICAR–National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (NBPGR), New Delhi. A distinguished vegetable scientist and breeder, he has made significant contributions to vegetable improvement, seed production, protected cultivation, and plant genetic resources management. He has developed several vegetable varieties and hybrids, particularly in tomato, capsicum, pak choi, long melon, and cucurbits. His extensive exploration missions across remote and border regions of India have contributed to enriching the national germplasm repository. He is a Certified Intellectual Property Manager and has authored 3 edited books, 16 book chapters, and more than 70 research papers in reputed journals.

Dr. D. K. Yadava is a Brassica breeder and seed expert with approximately 30 years of experience in mustard breeding and seed systems in India. He has contributed to the development of 24 varieties of mustard and pulses, including early-maturing, heat-tolerant, low-erucic-acid, and canola-quality varieties. His contributions include the development of the first canola-quality variety in India, PDZM 31, branded as “INDOLA.” He has integrated conventional and molecular breeding approaches, developed genetic resources through interspecific hybridization, and refined methodologies for mustard improvement. He has guided 3 M.Sc. and 8 Ph.D. students and published 120 research papers and 12 books. He has also contributed to policy discussions concerning GM and gene-edited crops, seed legislation, intellectual property, and biofortified varieties.

Chapter 1. Buckwheat (Fagopyrum spp.)

Chapter 2. Chia (Salvia hispanica L.)

Chapter 3. Grain Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.)

Chapter 4. Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.)

Chapter 5. Kalingada [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.)]

Chapter 6. Kankoda (Momordica dioica)

Chapter 7. Paradise Tree (Simarouba glauca)

Chapter 8. Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa)

Chapter 9. Rice Bean [Vigna umbellata (Thunb.)]

Chapter 10. Pillipesara (Vigna trilobata)

Chapter 11. Winged Bean [Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC.]

Chapter 12. Perilla [Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton]

Chapter 13. Makhana (Euryale ferox Salisb.)

Chapter 14. Khesari Dal (Grass Pea) [Lathyrus sativus L.]

Chapter 15. Bambara Groundnut [Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.]

Chapter 16. Mamra Bean [Tylosema esculentum (Burch.) A. Schreiber]