Faba Bean Improvement: Proceedings of the First International Faba Bean Conference

Faba beans, formerly known as broad beans, are among the oldest crops in the world. It has in fact been claimed with some justification that the Pyramids were built on fava beans! They are today a major crop in many countries such as China, Egypt, and Sudan; and are widely grown for human food throughout the Mediterranean region, in Ethiopia, and in parts of Latin America. In recent years there has been a growing interest in faba bean production as a protein source for stock feed in parts of Europe, North America, and Australia. The publication served by this preface arose from the first International Faba Bean Conference, held in Cairo, Egypt, on March 7.1 1, 1981 which provided a suitable forum for the review of many scientifically important aspects of the improvement of the crop. Leading faba bean specialists from four continents who participated were able not only to contribute from their personal expertise in relevant subjects but in return to gain from their experience of Nile Valley conditions and from close contact wit11 so many of the world's faba bean scientists. The conference was supported in the main by the ICARDA/IFAD Nile Valley Faba Bean Project. Additional support was received from a number of other organizations and institutions whose help is gladly acknowledged. These included the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) of the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture; G.T.Z. of Germany; IDRC of Canada; the National Research Center of Egypt; and Cairo University. The conference brought together leading faba bean specialists from Egypt and Sudan; together with their counterparts from the other Mediterranean, West Asian, European, and North American countries. From the considerable number (nearly 150) of participants present, formal presentations were made by more than 50 contributors. These provide a basis of technical strength which justifies the claim that "Faba Bean Improvement" is the best current reference book on the subject. No doubt it will be superseded as fresh knowledge becomes available. For the present, however, I have no hesitation in commending this publication for use by all who are interested in the production of this important crop. The opportunity is gladly taken to express sincere thanks to all contributors and to acknowledge the many and varied inputs from the Nile Valley Project without which this book could not have been published. Finally, no apology is offered for reminding the reader that "Faba Bean Improvement" is the second reference book produced by ICARDA on a food legume crop of world importance. The companion volume "Lentils" was published earlier in 1981. The Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research has entrusted ICARDA with a world mandate for both crops and these books are published in partial fulfillment of this responsibility

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