Sustainable Rural Systems

In a neo-liberal era where society in the Developed World is reliant on mass-produced cheap foods, and living standards are based on high consumption of non-renewable energy and materials, this book investigates the growing significance of sustainable systems in rural areas. Drawing on a wide range of topical case studies, primarily in the UK, it provides an in-depth analysis of the progress made towards sustainability within rural systems, focusing specifically upon sustainable agriculture and sustainable rural communities. The authors provide an overview of the various systems of sustainability currently being applied in the Developed World. They highlight key environmental, economic and social issues, including post-productivism, 'alternative' food networks, organic farming, GM foods, conservation, rural development programmes, sustainable tourism, local training schemes and community participation. The various studies provide important lessons in the ongoing search for greater sustainability and suggest positive directions for future policy practice.

Guy Robinson is Professor of Geography and Director of the Centre of Environmental and Earth Science Research, Kingston University, UK.

Contents: Preface; Part 1 Introduction: Sustainable rural systems: an introduction, Guy M. Robinson; Productivism versus post-productivism? Modes of agri-environmental governance in post-Fordist agricultural transitions, Mark Tilzey and Clive Potter. Part 2 Sustainable Agriculture: Constructing sustainability through reconnection: the case of 'alternative' food networks, Rosie Cox, Moya Kneafsey, Laura Venn, Lewis Holloway, Elizabeth Dowler and Helena Tuomainen; Farm animals and rural sustainability, Nick Evans and Richard Yarwood; A study of the motivations and influences on farmers' decisions to leave the organic farming sector in the United Kingdom, Frances Harris, Guy M. Robinson and Isobel Griffiths; GM farming and sustainability, Bruce D. Pearce; Balancing nature conservation 'needs' and those of other land uses in a multi-functional context: high-value nature conservation sites in lowland England, Christopher Short. Part 3 Sustainable Rural Communities: 'Culture economy', 'integrated tourism' and 'sustainable rural development': evidence from Western Ireland, Mary Cawley and Desmond A. Gillmor; The Cumbria hill sheep initiative: a solution to the decline in upland hill farming community in England?, Lois Mansfield; Participation and stewardship: sustainability in 2 Canadian environmental programmes, Guy M. Robinson; Index.