Introduction

This introductory article starts by discussing the importance of food for human life, culture, and civilization. Although research on food demand and consumption has been active for a few decades, the article states, there are presently few resources to which someone can turn as a basic reference on the economics of food consumption and policy that covers specificities of theories and methods related to the study of food consumers and covers issues in food demand and policy. This book is meant to fill that gap. This article finally outlines the main parts in the book which are divided into theory and methods, food policy, and topics and applications.