Three leading scholars in the field explain why place and provenance are assuming more importance in the food chain to producers, consumers, and regulators. They examine how these concerns influence debates on the future of food and farming, exploring the implications for three very different...

Food: the weak link -- The ecology of population growth -- Moving up the food chain -- Food or fuel? -- Eroding soils darkening our future -- Peak water and good scarcity -- Grain yields starting to plateau -- Rising temperatures, rising food prices -- China and the soybean challenge -- The...

Using case studies from European countries, chapters discuss trust-building methods for food networks in an e-business environment. Key issues include the influence of cultural disparity and cross-border transactions upon major product groups such as meat, cereal products and fresh produce.

In an increasingly commercialized world, the demand for better quality, healthier food has given rise to one of the fastest growing segments of the U.S. food system: locally grown food. Many believe that "relocalization" of the food system will provide a range of public benefits, including lower...

The issue of food has evolved significantly in recent years throughout Europe, under the pressure of environmental and climate constraints as well as a set of factors related to food dependence and changes in consumption patterns. Short circuit practices, embedded in localized agrifood systems,...

Evidence from the literature emphasize the role of Farmers' Markets (FMs) in enhancing economic benefits for both producers and consumers, improving social outcomes and benefiting the environment. Therefore, FMs can be conceived not just as an alternative to the market, but also as a specific...