By Sara Safransky and Wendy Wolford

Introduction: In 2007-2008, world food and fuel prices spiked sharply upward, doubling or tripling the cost of key food items and leading to a “wave” of protests and anti-government riots in more than 60 countries (IFPRI 2009). These protests, however sensational, were only the most recent and visible manifestation of growing levels of food insecurity, poverty, landlessness and environmental degradation around the world (Borras et al. 2011; de Schutter 2010; McMichael 2008). It is widely argued that the combined effects of global climate change, agro-industrial development, natural resource extraction, neo-liberal austerity policies and rapid urbanization have increased insecurity and vulnerability in rural areas across the globe and made it difficult for both the rural and urban poor as well as government agencies to foster and access the resources and capacities necessary for sustainable development (Deere and Royster 2008; McMichael 2008; WDR 2008).