Systems approaches for agricultural development are needed to determine rational strategies for the role of agriculture in national development. Mathematical models and computer simulation provide objective tools for applying science to determine and evaluate options for resource management at field, farm and regional scales. However, these tools would not be fully utilizable without incorporating social and economic dimensions into their application. The second international symposium, Systems Approaches for Agricultural Development, held in Los Banos, 6-8 December 1995,...

When matched with Asian mega trends in culture, demographics and economics, BioScience products provide huge potential for exploitation and value creation in the coming years. This potential will be further enhanced by the declining capacity of the world's oil reserves to provide hydrocarbons for fuel and materials, and plants will become more important as bio-factories for basic ingredients to sustain human societies. Successful business models have been developed to harness the potential of BioScience to meet the demands for food, feed and organochemicals based on value creation and value...