European farmers and food producers have a reputation for producing a diverse range of high quality products. Beyond the legal requirements, there are additional aspects of product quality, which are also valued by consumers, e.g. the use of traditional farming methods in production. Agricultural product quality policy forms part of...

In the past decade, both worldwide and in Croatia, there has been an increased interest in the production of organic products. This is the result of several factors. The most important elements of the organic food industry are linking agriculture and tourism, improving overall tourism, increasing consumer concerns for health,...

The conference was organised by the University of Agriculture in Krakow, the Institute of Rural and Agricultural Development of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, the Malopolska Association of Agricultural Extension Services, the Agricultural Advisory Centre in Brwinów (Branch Office in Krakow) and the Office of the Member of...

In recent years Italy has seen a vital, if spontaneous and rather piecemeal, growth in short food supply chains at the local level. Such a phenomenon is of considerable interest since it responds to a number of needs and opportunities, both of farmers and consumers. Short supply food chains in...

In recent years small farms have received increased attention in the political debate, recognizing the role they play in rural areas and the need to improve their economic and social conditions in times of structural change of the agricultural sector towards fewer and larger farms. However, the wide variation in...

Taking action on biodiversity is of paramount importance given that species and habitats continue to be lost at an alarming rate both within Europe and around the world. Nature’s ‘free’ services are the foundation of our societies and economies, providing us with clean air, water, food, fibre, fuel and healthy...

The study analyses the structure and economic performance of small-scale coastal fisheries (SSF) in Europe. Eighteen main clusters within SSF are identified and their distribution by NUTS-2 region is presented. The contribution of SSF in terms of income and employment to the economies of the NUTS-2 regions is also assessed....

A global shift towards an agriculture that builds up organic matter in the soil would also put us on a path to removing some of the other major sources of greenhouse gas emissions from the food system.

Une étude typologique de l’élevage pastoral des petits ruminants dans les régions arides tunisiennes a permis d’illustrer les impacts des mutations socio économiques sur les structures et le fonctionnement technique du secteur. Les données issues de 180 enquêtes auprès des troupeaux de 4 gouvernorats du sud ont été analysées par...

The study analyses the structure and economic performance of small-scale coastal fisheries (SSF) in Europe. Eighteen main clusters within SSF are identified and their distribution by NUTS-2 region is presented. The contribution of SSF in terms of income and employment to the economies of the NUTS-2 regions is also assessed....

Mountain farming in Europe is based mainly on ruminant livestock and utilization of locally produced forage resources by grazing and hay. Farmland extends from mountains in the eastern Mediterranean to the Atlantic coast, with major areas at the highest elevations in central Europe, thus encompassing wide variation in geology, soil,...

Luxembourg, like other countries, contains forest owners who have inherited their forest land but they themselves are not involved in professional forestry. These types of forest owners may tend to leave their forest alone and not manage them. An INTERREG project helped to identify such ''passive'' forest owners and Leader funds...

The socio-economic frame-conditions of land-use change in the Alps are diverse, as is the adaptation of agriculture. Generally, the Alpine space is a land of meadows and pastures. This is a result of developments on the European agricultural market and a better economic context for the production of milk and...

This paper analyses the likely impact of climate change on European grasslands in relation to their present agro-climatic conditions. Such an analysis is an essential part of any assessment of climate change impacts on agriculture given that grasslands are of high importance for agriculture in temperate and humid regions of...

The concept of HNV farmland is a novelty for the South Eastern Europe (SEE) countries. But even in the absence of detailed studies it is clear that the generally very extensive character of agriculture in these countries suggests that there are large areas of HNV farmland in a variety of...

After communism Romania launched capitalist reforms in its huge agricultural sector

Food is fundamental to life and the majority of the food that we eat comes from Europe’s rural areas. Food priorities for the European Union (EU) include safeguarding food supplies and providing European citizens with quality, value and a diversity of food which is produced sustainably3 . The Common Agricultural...

At Culberry Nursery in Angmering, West Sussex (4 miles west of Worthing), Martin Jarvis is taking the first steps to set up a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Project.A meeting in May 2011 established the level of interest, as local Angmering residents and members of Transition Town Worthing discussed ideas of...

Les terres agricoles subissent une pression croissante à la suite de l’étalement urbain et résidentiel, du développement du tourisme et de la modification des formes d’usages des espaces ruraux, et ce quel que soit le niveau de développement des pays. C’est dans la perspective d’apporter des connaissances utiles aux décideurs...

The shepherding of livestock on open pastures is an essential marker of pastoralist management. In modern Europe this practice still persists in various truncated forms. In many parts of the world, government policies undervalue or actively discourage pastoralism, especially mobile pastoralism. Europe is an exception to this trend. Backed by...