The Farming Systems Research and Extension approach adopts a multidimensional perspective and has been widely used to bring about rural change in many developing countries. The approach has traditionally been less used in Europe where research has tended to concentrate on increasing production. However, with the current emphasis within the European Union on restricting surpluses and on environmental and social protection, circumstances are more appropriate to the farming systems approach. Changes to rural infrastructures and agricultural production in Central and Eastern Europe may also favour the approach. This book is the first to define the issues of farming systems research as they might be applied within a European context and extended to rural systems as a whole. Consisting of 27 chapters, it is divided into five parts covering: conceptual background; contextual setting; alternative production systems; understanding farm households; and systems methodologies. Contributions are included from the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Netherlands, Finland, Estonia and Greece. The book is aimed at a wide range of readers in agricultural economics and rural studies.