Localized Agri-Food Systems and Biodiversity

Efficiency and coordination in the EU agri-food systems

During the 52nd Conference of the Italian Society of Agricultural Economists (SIDEA), Italian agricultural economists have been given the opportunity to debate regarding internationalization, competition, and local development in agri-food systems. This special issue of the journal AFE contains four selected papers presented in this conference. These papers focus on three main issues that are s...

Theorizing Agri-Food Economies

This paper discusses agri-food economies and how they evolve over time. It also analyses how these economies, which often have contradictory dynamics, are theorized. A central thesis of the paper is that different theoretical representations not only reflect the differences in agro-economies and their developmental tendencies, but are also important drivers that actively shape the trajectories ...

The 'Wellness' Phenomenon: Implications for Global Agri-food Systems

The ‘wellness’ phenomenon is now apparent throughout the world and is associated, inter alia, with: the importance of a balanced diet; recognition of the need for regular exercise; the introduction of workplace fitness programs; and the introduction of new (and alternative) approaches to the treatment of medical ailments. What has gone seemingly unnoticed, however, have been the quite profound ...

Agroecology and Alternative Agri-Food Movements in the United States: Toward a Sustainable Agri-Food System

The concept of agroecology in the United States is born out of a dialectical process of co-production of knowledge whereby the science of agroecology has shaped and been shaped by alternative agri-food movements, policy, and local practice. This article examines the relationship between agroecology and alternative agri-food movements and identifies opportunities for greater engagement. The arti...

The Emerging Nano-Corporate Paradigm: Nanotechnology and the Transformation of Nature, Food and Agri-Food Systems