Proteins are among the six key nutrient categories found in human foods, which are essential for good human health, reproduction, and growth. Both animal- and plant-based proteins meet the protein requirements of the human diet. Unfortunately, animal-based diets are considered unsustainable, inefficient, environmentally unfriendly, and unhealthy. In particular, the average animal-based protein requires 11 times more fossil energy, 4 to 26 times more water, and 6 to 17 times more than plant-based proteins. Mainly grown as pulses, grain legumes (a group of plants in the family Fabaceae or Leguminosae) provide food for humans and stand second to none in terms of their significance as excellent sources of dietary protein, high protein content (16-50%), balanced amino acid profiles, and affordability. Legumes play a key role in soil health, human food and nutritional security, and (agricultural and environmental) sustainability. Despite these, several constraints for legumes are significantly hampering their growth, development, productivity, and utilization.

This book: (i) introduces the theme of the book and enlightened the significance of legumes in sustainably securing food, nutrition, and the good health of human and environment for the rising global population; (ii) highlights the nutritional, health, agricultural, and environmental benefits of legumes and the key practices involved in their cultivation; (iii) discusses the potential of legume landraces in combating global hidden hunger; (iv) overviews the global legume production, constraints and prospects; (v) briefly enlightens key insights into origin, botany, benefits, constraints, and recent focus of research on neglected and underutilized legume crops; (vi) appraises literature on new frontiers related to underutilized and wild legumes; and also (vii) presents important aspects on bean rust in the genomics era.

This volume is an important resource for plant biologists and agronomists involved in teaching or research who wish to advance their knowledge of various aspects of important legumes.