This volume contains selected refereed papers based on lectures presented at the 'Fifth International Fez Conference on Commutative Algebra and Applications' that was held in Fez, Morocco in June 2008. The volume represents new trends and areas of classical research within the field, with contributions from many different countries. In addition, the volume has as a special focus the research and influence of Alain Bouvier on commutative algebra over the past thirty years.

The series is aimed specifically at publishing peer reviewed reviews and contributions presented at workshops and conferences. Each volume is associated with a particular conference, symposium or workshop. These events cover various topics within pure and applied mathematics and provide up-to-date coverage of new developments, methods and applications.