ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book describes the paths followed by agricultural industrialization and highlights the main components of the institutional framework responsible for this process. It discusses principles and criteria for the design of institutions and the cognitive frameworks that Political Agroecology must provide in order to promote a new sustainable food regime. The book also discusses the most effective collective action to promote food change, an action that cannot be segmented into agroecosystem management practices, transformative social movement practices, or institutional action: multilevel collective action that strategically combines all these dimensions is called for. It examines the best strategy for agroecological experiences to scale out and scale up, constituting a viable alternative to the corporate food regime and addresses the major players of food change.
