"Many important changes in agriculture are born as small and seemingly irrelevant deviations. Initially they are hardly visible.
However, sometimes they are actively developed further and linked to similar ‘novelties’. A considerable part of the dynamics of agri­culture and the countryside is due to this kind of hidden ‘novelty production’. This book unravels the mystery of novelty production and simultaneously links it to current processes of rural development. It is grounded on neo-institutional analysis: a powerful tool to come at grips with the rich and many-sided dynamics of rural change.

The book is based on intriguing case studies of areas that are able to change their destiny from being marginal to becoming vibrant rural economies. The areas are located in Central and Southern Italy and in the North of The Netherlands.

The author is currently linked to the University of Perugia. He obtained his PhD degree at Wageningen University. He also worked for an extended period in the Italian Ministry of Agriculture. Currently he is advising several Italian Regions and some Farmers' Unions."