Preface

xi

PREFACE

To write a book that can guide the reader through the legal,

regulatory, institutional, and economic issues that surround our modern

food and agricultural system is, in a word, challen ging. And therein lies

its value. T his Handbook is a practical resource to allow the reader to

navigate the unique legal, regulatory, and economic history within the

disparate, but connected, industries that are agriculture and food. The

Handbook provides a synthesis of antitrust and consumer protection

issues that arise within these industries.

These are important issues. Consider the history of agriculture. The

development of advanced food and agriculture systems is what allowed

the first civilizations to establish large cities, freed individuals to pursue

specialized professions, and ultimately created complex culture. Our

intrinsic connection to the fruits of nature is still evidenced in the

location of many of the world’s great cities, nearly all of which were first

established close to fertile land and bodies of water.

Our population continues to grow. Globalization continues to present

opportunities and challenges in agriculture and food. Climate change will

likely require changes in the balance of our food systems. Food and

agriculture will continue to be fundamental to our societies, and with it

the tenets of competition and consumer protection. Our goal is for this

Handbook to aid the pursuit of sharpening our legal and regulatory

approach to the evolving issues in antitrust and consumer protection in

agriculture and food.

It required a band of wise practitioners who were willing to take

substantial time and effort to distill their years of learning in these

industries. The group includes a diverse set of attorneys and economists

with expertise in the field. We are grateful for their contributions.

In particular, a heartfelt thanks is owed to the following authors: