The biomass based energy sector, especially the one based on lignocellulosic sources such as switchgrass Miscanthus, forest residues and short rotation coppice, will play an important role in our drive towards renewable energy. The biomass feedstock production (BFP) subsystem provides the necessary material inputs to the conversion processes for energy production. This subsystem includes the agronomic production of energy crops and the physical handling and delivery of biomass, as well as other enabling logistics. Achieving a sustainable BFP system is therefore paramount for the success of the emerging bioenergy sector. However, low bulk and energy densities, seasonal and weather sensitive availability, distributed supply and lack of commercial scale production experience create unique challenges. Moreover, novel region specific feedstock alternatives continue to emerge. Engineering will play a critical role in addressing these challenges and ensuring the techno-economic feasibility of this sector. It must also integrate with the biological, physical and chemical sciences and incorporate externalities, such as social/economic considerations, environmental impact and policy/regulatory issues, to achieve a truly sustainable system. Tremendous progress has been made in the past few years while new challenges have simultaneously emerged that need further investigation. It is therefore prudent at this time to review the current status and capture the future challenges through a comprehensive book. This work will serve as an authoritative treatise on the topic that can help researchers, educators and students interested in the field of biomass feedstock production, with particular interest in the engineering aspects.

Sustainability has emerged as the central theme to manage and avert large scale environmental and resource degradation associated with intense human development. Systems theory provides a strong mathematical platform to achieve these goals which are often multi-disciplinary involving disparate temporal and spatial scales. This work is a step in that direction and explores the application of systems theory techniques such as modeling, optimization and optimal control for sustainable management. The work analyzes drinking water distribution system (sensor placement for risk minimization), mercury pollution management (optimization of mercury trading and lake liming for bioaccumulation control), ecological systems (disaster management of predator-prey models) and integrated ecological-economic-social systems (policy development for stability) as a part of the study. Uncertainty is incorporated at various stages through innovative modeling and solution algorithms to make the analysis robust. The results emphasize the importance of systems theory is sustainable management initiatives.