Illustrated by a range of case studies from across Europe, this volume examines the interface of agricultural - and sometimes rural - development and the social and economic feasibility of traditional modes of production and consumption. It also provides an overview of the various strategies and policies concerning sustainable agriculture.

Contents: Editorial preface; Introduction: The complex force field of traditional food systems: setting the scene, Teresa de Noronha Vaz and Peter Nijkamp. Part I Sustainability and European Rurality: Is the world food system compatible with sustainable development?, Jean-Louis Rastoin; Sustainability and agri-environmental policy in the European Union: a meta-analytic investigation, Katrin Oltmer, Peter Nijkamp, Raymond Florax and Floor Brouwer; A comparative analysis of rurality at the EU level and Turkey, Aliye Ahu Gülümser, Tüzin Baycan-Levent and Peter Nijkamp; Governance and determinants of local economic development, Paulo Alexandre Neto, João Almeida Couto and Maria Manuel Natário; The role of cultural values in rural development, Edina Szlanyinka. Part II Traditional Markets and Globalization: Meat processing in the Ibero-American countries: a historical view, Javier Mateo, Irma Caro, Ana Cristina Figueira, Daphne Ramos and José M. Zumalacárregui; Market integration and market power in the internal EU market for butter, Heinrich Hockmann and Éva Vöneki; The Romanian food consumption model in the context of the European Union integration, Cecilia Alexandri and Cornelia Alboiu; How could traditional consumption stimulate the bakery industry?, Iuliana Ionel; Consumer decision-making with regard to organic food products, John Thøgerson. Part III Mass and Segmentation in Traditional Food Markets: Local honey production: export or indigenous growth?, Teresa de Noronha Vaz; Market dynamics and policy reforms in the olive oil sector: a European perspective, Samir Mili; Traditional Belgian beers in a global market economy, Tessa Avermaete and Gert Vandermosten; Protected designation of origin, sustainable development and international policies: a survey of DOC wines from Emilia-Romagna, Silvia Gatti; Large-scale production and market segmentation: an uneasy relationship, Teresa de Noronha Vaz and Peter Nijkamp; Traditional food production, market segments and rural sustainable development: a synthesis, Jean Louis Rastoin; Index.

'Striving to formulate and implement strategies to achieve sustainable development is a big challenge for contemporary societies. The contributions to this volume address the diverse and complex issues of how to enhance traditional food production in the context of sustainable rural development in Europe. This must-read book provides incisive economic insights into the global and local challenges for production system and the implications for consumption patterns.' Robert J Stimson, University of Queensland and Convenor of the Australian Research Council Research Network in Spatially Integrated Social Science, Australia 'This important and timely book focuses on a topic which has been recently receiving much attention among policy makers in the European Community who are trying to reshape the Common Agricultural Policy. This set of scientific articles skillfully analyzes production and consumption of selected agricultural products that face critical decisions regarding new technological innovation in light of traditional agricultural food production practices which often comply with social and environmental sustainability criteria. This book is an important addition to the on-going debate about optimizing agricultural production policies in developed countries.' Daniel Shefer, Israel Institute of Technology, Israel 'The authors provide important insights into how small-scale local enterprises, based on traditional know-how and embodying cultural and social values, can survive in the face of market competition and quality requirements.' Experimental Agriculture