Springer Sustainable Food Chains and Ecosystems: Cooperative Approaches for a Changing World (Cooperative Management)

Unarguably, preserving the ecosystem, securing sustainability and understanding the dynamics of agro-food chains have all become vital policy objectives with several interlinked dimensions. The main objectives of this book are to draw the attention of researchers, policymakers and businesspeople to the relation between agro-food chains and the ecosystem, and to demonstrate the importance of building resilient agro-food chains that take into account climate change and environmental challenges. Agro-food chains as they function today can serve as powerful tools for promoting sustainable forms of agriculture, consumption and production that are embedded in a viable ecosystem. The book addresses a range of environmental, methodological and societal issues from a transaction perspective, while also providing extensive background information on the topic, and outlining future applications and research directions. From the Back Cover Unarguably, preserving the ecosystem, securing sustainability and understanding the dynamics of agro-food chains have all become vital policy objectives with several interlinked dimensions. The main objectives of this book are to draw the attention of researchers, policymakers and businesspeople to the relation between agro-food chains and the ecosystem, and to demonstrate the importance of building resilient agro-food chains that take into account climate change and environmental challenges. Agro-food chains as they function today can serve as powerful tools for promoting sustainable forms of agriculture, consumption and production that are embedded in a viable ecosystem. The book addresses a range of environmental, methodological and societal issues from a transaction perspective, while also providing extensive background information on the topic, and outlining future applications and research directions. About the Author Konstantinos Mattas is a Professor of Agricultural Policy at the School of Agriculture, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. His research interests include agricultural and social policy, rural development and interdisciplinary work. He has published more than 200 papers in internationally refereed journals, collective volumes and proceedings, contributing to several international journals. He is Managing Editor of the Agricultural Economics Review, Associate Editor of the International Review of Applied Economic Research, and a member of the editorial board of New Medit, Journal of International Food and Agribusiness Marketing, Bulgarian Journal of Agricultural Science, Journal of International Food & Agribusiness Marketing, Economia Agro-Alimentare, South-Eastern Europe Journal of Economic and Cooperative Management. He also has great experience in participating and coordinating European and national research projects. Henk Kievit is Faculty Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship, Governance & Stewardship as well as Program Director of the Executive MBA programs Food & Innovation/Business & IT/Public & Private Tracks at Nyenrode Business University, The Netherlands. His research includes a variety of topics in (social) entrepreneurship, governance of society, innovation in the circular economy, network- and eco-system organization, and sustainability marketing. He teaches in executive MBA and MSc programs. He is Professor of Organization & Innovation in Regional Eco-systems at the Christian University of Applied Sciences, Ede, The Netherlands, and Visiting Professor at the Silesian University of Technology, Poland. He has published in internationally refereed scientific journals and contributed to scientific and academic books on social venturing entrepreneurship, sustainability, corporate governance and innovation and business eco-systems. He has held senior management positions in the international business of information technology, family (venture) philanthropy and impact investments organizations. Gert van Di