Food security has been and will continue to be a key driver of socio-political priorities at global, regional and national level. Increasing world population, sustainability concerns and uneven income growth present the food and agricultural sector with the permanent challenges of: (1) increasing total food availabilities, (2) satisfying the increasing diversification of consumers’ basket, and (3) meeting higher quality standards (safety, environment, welfare and ethic), while (4) keeping food affordable.

Global production is increasing, yet the level of increase as well as agricultural development patterns differ widely worldwide. Beyond natural constraints, these differences reflect diverging economic and structural reforms as well as marketing strategies, and are crucially relevant in maintaining diversified agricultural landscapes worldwide.