Geographies of Agriculture: Globalisation, Restructuring and Sustainability

Agricultural Geography has changed dramatically in recent decades, reflecting the transformation of the farming industry itself. Geographies of Agriculture embraces these changes, applying ideas and methods from contemporary social science, as it moves beyond farm-based production to address current issues affecting the production and consumption of food and fibre throughout the world. The book places special emphasis on topics that reflect globalisation processes, integration of agriculture into the wider agri-food system, concern with attaining sustainable production systems, and the importance of both government and supra-government policies. Examples are drawn from North America, Western Europe and the developing world.Key issues addressed include:* the globalisation of agricultural production* the growing importance of supermarkets and fast-food outlets* the changing nature of government regulation* the persistence of hunger and famine in parts of the Developing World* attempts to develop sustainable agricultural systems the role of biotechnology Geographies of Agriculture will appeal especially to Geography students, but should also be of interest to a broader range of students in Sociology, Economics and Development Studies, and anyone interested in agriculture, food production and consumption, and rural development. Guy M. Robinson is the Inaugural Chair of Geography at Kingston University, Surrey, having previously held positions at the Universities of Edinburgh and Oxford and visiting lectureships in Australia, Canada and New Zealand. His previous books include Methods and Techniques in Human Geography and Conflicts and Change in the Countryside. He is on the Editorial Advisory Board of Land Use Policy, and is editor of the journal Australian Studies.