The art and science of plant improvement are key elements in efforts to feed, clothe and provide energy for the world’s ever-growing population. Conventional and molecular tools assist in the development of new genetic strains of food and energy crops. Crop plants play an important role in the future of sustainable food and energy production.

The discipline of soil science provides the basic understanding of the physical, chemical, and biological properties of this important natural resource. Why is soil important? Soil is the fundamental substrate for life on terrestrial landscapes. Soil plays a vital role in sustaining human welfare and assuring future agricultural productivity and environmental stability. An understanding of global and local ecology depends on an awareness of the soil and its properties. Global information and mapping systems are essential tools for characterizing the landscape and its constituent soils.