ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of the book. This book discusses the scope of actions that need to be undertaken in order for Greek agriculture to survive the pressures from an increasingly competitive world. Two facts underscore this need. First, agriculture constitutes an important sector not only to Greece's economy, but also to the country's socio-cultural structure. Second, a series of international developments lead to several changes: to trade liberalization, to the expansion of existing markets and to the emergence of new ones, to improved market access, to changes in consumer priorities and to the awareness of environmental issues. The book builds up a framework of integrated policies that could confront unemployment, desertification of rural areas, the challenges of increasing competition, environmental degradation, and the irrational use of productive resources.
