This book contains discussions on: Unlocking Weed Potential: From Enemy to Resource, Weeds: The Forgotten Enemy, Getting to Know Weeds: Between Ecological Characteristics and Roles, Weeds as Alternative Food, Pharmacological Potential of Weeds, Weeds for Industrial Needs, Role of Weeds in Environmental Management, Towards Economic Weed Cultivation, Obstacles, Challenges, and Solutions to Weed Utilisation, Future Weed Research and Innovation, and Paradigm Transformation: Making Weeds an Asset.

The old paradigm in global weed management has been dominated by the use of chemical herbicides, especially since the mid-20th century. This approach focuses on chemical weed control, both pre-planting (PRE) and early post-planting (POST), with the aim of keeping crops free from weed competition during critical growth periods. The advantages of herbicides in terms of efficiency, cost, and ease of application have led farmers in many countries to rely heavily on this technology (Walsh et al., 2013).