The International Plant Nutrition Colloquium in Hannover was the 14th in a series that started in 1954. Hannover was also selected as the venue of the 7th Colloquium held 27 years ago, in September 1974, under the presidency of J. Wehrmann. This volume is a compilation of extended abstracts of all papers presented at the 14th Colloquium. These papers include two plenary lectures which address the role of plant nutrition in the sustainability of agro-ecosystems and the production of enough high quality food to feed the growing world population. Recent advances in plant nutrition are reviewed in introductory plenary lectures in each of the Symposia devoted to: genetics and molecular biology of plant nutrition, nutrient functions, nutrient uptake and translocation, the role of the apoplast in mineral nutrition, plant quality and plant health, salinity and plant–soil–water relations, mineral element toxicity and resistance nutrient acquisition, soil organisms/plant interactions, fertiliser use in relation to optimum yield and environment, nutrient dynamics in natural and agro-ecosystems, and plant nutrition and sustainable development. Current knowledge and research emphasis in these areas of the subject is well illustrated by more than 500 oral and poster presentations and the reader is provided with a comprehensive view of the state of plant nutrition research worldwide.