Rural Sustainability and Competitiveness

This prescient book discusses the importance of reducing the environmental impacts of economic growth in agricultural regions. It examines the relationship between efforts to achieve economically viable food production in marginal and peripheral inland areas and the demand for environmental quality in rural districts. Expert authors examine rural development from a sustainability perspective, illustrating how improved living conditions depend not only on economic growth, but also on the fair distribution of wealth. With a specific focus on Europe, they combine theoretical, qualitative and empirical analysis to explore local sustainable trajectories within rural contexts. Chapters delve into comparative case studies, exercises and advanced teaching on European farms. The book adopts a multidisciplinary approach to reflect on pressing environmental and economic issues, advocating for sustainable and long-term rural development paths. Students and scholars of agricultural and regional economics, development studies, rural sociology and economic and environmental geography will greatly benefit from this illuminating book. It is also an essential resource for practitioners and policymakers in related fields such as planning, law, agronomy, development and forestry.