Introduction

This chapter provides an overview of the book, which argues that an interdisciplinary approach should be used to reach a better understanding of: i) consumers’ and producers’ motivations for participating in AFNs; ii) AFNs’ operating mechanisms and the conditions for their sustainability over time; iii) their impact on the environment and on the local area. Hence, the book starts with a theoretical discussion of AFNs from different disciplinary approaches, proceeding then to analyze them from the consumers’ viewpoint, from the producers’ viewpoint, and in terms of their environmental and geographical impacts. A final chapter deals with future perspectives for AFNs.