For Immediate Release

Convergence of Food Security, Energy Security and Sustainable Agriculture

New book explores “convergence” as the key to a stable global agricultural platform to feed the world

San Diego, CA (December 1, 2014) — A new scientific text, Convergence of Food Security, Energy Security and Sustainable Agriculture is now available through Springer Science+Business Media. The book explores the concept of “convergence,” as the foundation of a stable global agricultural platform. Edited by David Songstad, PhD, Director of Research/Cell Biology, Cibus; Jerry Hatfield, PhD, Laboratory Director and Supervisory Plant Physiologist, USDA; and Dwight Tomes, PhD, recently retired Senior Scientist at Pioneer Hi-Bred, the text also features the world’s leading researchers within each field.

“Clearly a balance is necessary regarding the definition of Sustainable Agriculture and, more so, regarding the interaction of Food Security, Energy Security, and Sustainable Agriculture. This was the impetus behind the creation of this book and its title Convergence of Food Security, Energy Security and Sustainable Agriculture. It is the convergence where we need to be as a global community to serve the caloric needs of humanity. It is the convergence where we need to be as a global community to grow the food that we need for life. It is the convergence where we need to be as a global community to insure that our children and grandchildren have food to eat in the next generation and beyond,” said Dr. Songstad. “Convergence of Food Security, Energy Security and Sustainable Agriculture brings together the leading work in this field, from researchers around the world, and will be an important guide moving forward.”

From the use of farming chemicals to agricultural policy to cutting-edge genetics, Convergence of Food Security, Energy Security and Sustainable Agriculture seeks to address some of the world’s most pressing scientific and humanitarian issues. By curating the work of leading experts in disparate fields, this text gives a complete and digestible picture of what obstacles lay ahead and what our current capabilities are in advancing food and energy sustainability. The volume examines the interrelated fields of food security, energy security and Sustainable Agriculture as the key to a stable global agricultural platform and is arranged in six parts.


Dr. David Songstad currently serves Cibus US LLC as Director of Research/Cell Biology. His education in plant biotechnology and agronomy led to a career working for both Monsanto and Pioneer Hi-Bred/DuPont, where he headed corn transformation teams that developed the enabling technologies leading to the first commercial transgenic corn. He has more than 40 journal publications and 7 issued patents. He has also edited a book on biofuels (2011) and was recently selected to serve on the Editorial Board of Critical Reviews in Plant Science. Additionally, he is currently the President of the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) and is the Past-President of the Society for In Vitro Biology (SIVB).

To schedule an interview with Dr. Songstad, please contact Shawna Seldon McGregor at 917 971 7852 or . For more information on the book or to request an online review copy, visit http://www.springer.com/life+sciences/agriculture/book/978-3-642-55261-8.