This volume contains selected refereed papers based on lectures presented at the ‘Fifth International Fez Conference on Commutative Algebra and Applications’ that was held in Fez, Morocco in June 2008. The volume represents new trends and areas of classical research within the field, with contributions from many different countries. In addition, the volume has as a special focus the research and influence of Alain Bouvier on commutative algebra over the past thirty years.