The book focuses on the relationship between agriculture and public goods, an issue of topical interest which is increasingly shaping the debate on the future of agricultural and rural development policies. The provision of public goods and services through the primary sector is not determined exclusively by the agricultural practices adopted by single farms, but also by a number of factors that relate to the social and cultural dynamics of the territories, including the types of relationships amongst rural stakeholders, the quality of local institutions and the development of local networks. The research presented in this book shows the importance of these factors through five successful local projects, which shed the light on the role of collective action in the management and provision of environmental and socio-economic goods related to agricultural activities. Through an in-depth analysis of these cases, the study aims at stimulating a critical reflection on the new challenges that Italian agriculture will face in the near future in order to meet the growing demand for public goods and services expressed by citizens, consumers and taxpayers. 

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