Wonder Crops for Future is a comprehensive reference book highlighting the importance and potential of underutilized and emerging crops in addressing global challenges related to climate change, food security, nutritional insecurity, and sustainable agriculture. The book explores the scientific, nutritional, medicinal, and agricultural significance of promising alternative crops that offer opportunities for crop diversification and sustainable food production. It covers eight important crops, namely Amaranth, Quinoa, Kalingada, Spine Gourd, Chia, Faba Bean, Winged Bean, and Pillipesara, emphasizing their nutritional richness, health benefits, adaptability, and economic potential. The publication provides insights into their genetic resources, crop improvement, varietal development, agronomic management, and future research prospects. Special attention is given to their climate resilience, suitability for marginal and stress-prone environments, and potential for low-input farming systems. It also highlights emerging technologies and research opportunities for the conservation and sustainable utilization of these valuable crops. This book will serve as a valuable reference for agricultural scientists, researchers, academicians, students, extension professionals, farmers, and policymakers working towards agricultural diversification, nutritional security, and climate-resilient farming systems

Dr. Satish Kumar Yadav, Principal Scientist, presently working as Nodal Officer, AICRN on Potential Crops, ICAR-NBPGR, New Delhi. He has more than 25 years of experience in the area of Plant Genetic Resources, including characterization, evaluation and exchange of PGR. He has conducted more than 50 exploration missions and collected around 5235 accessions of agri-horticultural crops from diverse climatic regions of the country. He has published research papers (60) in national and international journals, books (2), book chapters (7), extension bulletins (5), PGR reporters (68) developed varieties of tomato (4), chilli (2), potential crops (14) and Patents (6). He has been awarded Fellow ISPGR, Fellow ISST and Fellow ISVS, and has several awards to his credit. 

Dr. D.K. Yadava, as a Brassica Breeder and Seed Expert for the last 30 years and has revolutionized the Brassica breeding and seed system in India. He has contributed to the development of 24 varieties of mustard (21) and pulses (3), which include very early varieties viz. Pusa Mustard-25, PM-27, and PM-28; timely sown varieties viz., RGN-48, RGN-13, Pusa Aditya, RGN-73, RGN-145, Pusa Vijay and PM-26 with heat tolerance, and seven low erucic acid (Pusa Mustard-21,22,24,29,30,32,34) and four Canola quality [Pusa Double Zero Mustard (PDZM) 31,33,35,36] varieties. PDZM 31 is the country’s FIRST Canola quality variety, branded as “INDOLA”. These varieties occupy ~45% of the mustard growing area in the country. He has integrated conventional and molecular breeding approaches, developed unique genetic resources through inter-specific hybridization, and devised and refined various methodologies for mustard improvement. He has guided three M.Sc. and eight PhD students and published 120 research papers widely in peer-reviewed journals and 12 books. He is contributing towards various policy issues viz., GM and GE crops guidelines, revision of NBAct 2002, New Seed Bill, Revision of Seed Policy 1988 and Seed Control (Order) 1983, IPR of GE technology, Online Seed Portal (SATHI) and upscaling of biofortified varieties.

Chapter 1. AMARANTH: The Future Superfood Crop

Chapter 2. QUINOA: The Complete Protein Food

Chapter 3. KALINGADA: Known for Micro Nutrients

Chapter 4. SPINE GOURD: Immunity Booster

Chapter 5. CHIA: Strength Provider

Chapter 6. FABA BEAN: Fiber, Folate and L-Dopa

Chapter 7. WINGED BEAN: One Species Super Market

Chapter 8. PILLIPESARA: Substitute for Green Manure and Fodder