Short description:

This book investigates competition law and policy in relation to agricultural producers, examining the topic in light of both the neoliberal agricultural policy and food sovereignty paradigms. It will be of interest to researchers in the field of agricultural law, competition law, and sustainability.

Long description:

Through a detailed law-and-policy analysis, this book investigates competition law and policy in relation to agricultural producers, examining the topic in light of both the neoliberal agricultural policy and food sovereignty paradigms, with a focus on their differing approaches to competition and sustainability.

This book addresses the increasing pressures faced by agricultural producers, stemming from two major developments: the shift towards neoliberal economic policies in agri-food markets, and the growing recognition of the agricultural sector?s role in environmental degradation due to unsustainable practices. These developments have provoked protests from farmers and prompted critical questions about how different agricultural and competition policy theories navigate the complex relationship between competition, agriculture and sustainability. By conceptualising the connections between each topic, the book comprehensively analyses their interdependence. While competition law experts frequently overlook the realities of the agricultural sector, agricultural scholars may not fully grasp the objectives of competition law. By bridging these divides, the book provides an integrated understanding of competition and agricultural policy, also with a particular focus on sustainability.

This book will be of interest to researchers in the field of agricultural law and policy, and competition law and policy, as well as those interested in sustainability.

In an area of vivid interaction between the EU and the national and regional levels, Martin Milán Csirszki provides a sharp analysis of the sustainability goal in the interface between agricultural law and competition law. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in EU and comparative economic law.

Bert Keirsbilck, Professor, KU Leuven, Belgium

Csirszki?s highly reflective, comparative, and comprehensive study on agricultural and competition policy objectives in a sustainable development setting is worth reading. Challenging a ?more-economic approach?, this book suggests a novel food sovereignty-based take on agri-food cases and markets where agricultural objectives inform the application of antitrust law. Agriculture, Sustainability and Competition Law: Policy Paradigms and Their Legal Implications will inform the sustainable agriculture regulatory policy debate for years to come.

Ignacio Herrera Anchustegui, Professor, University of Bergen, Norway

Table of Contents:

PART I: Introduction

1. Starting point

2. Methodology

3. Structure

4. Delimitation 

5. Doctrinal fundamentals

PART II: The Clash Between Agricultural and Competition Policy

6. The agricultural sector from the viewpoint of competition policy

7. Competition from the viewpoint of agricultural policy

8. The winner of the clash

PART III: Sustainability in Agricultural and Competition Policy

9. Some clarifications on sustainability and sustainable development

10. Sustainability in agricultural policy

11. Sustainability in competition policy

PART IV: Competition Rules Applying to Agri-Food Markets and to Sustainability Agreements of Agri-Food Market Players

12. Antitrust and the agricultural sector

13. Antitrust, sustainability and the agricultural sector

14. Beyond antitrust

15. Comparison between EU and US law

PART V: Agricultural Policy Paradigms on Competition and Sustainability

16. The prevailing neoliberal paradigm

17. Food sovereignty as the contesting paradigm

18. The compatibility of agricultural policy paradigms with competition policy schools of thought

19. Agriculture from an ordoliberal viewpoint

PART VI: Finale

20. General conclusions

21. Conceptualising food sovereignty with ordoliberalism

22. Regulating competition in light of the food sovereignty paradigm