Risk Management and the Environment: Agriculture in Perspective is a
modern academic work that seeks to bring out both to the private and the
policy sectors the importance of risk management in relation to the
envi- ronment in agriculture, as the world moves towards freer markets.
Many efforts were pooled together in making this book. Three years ago,
an attempt was made by one of the editors to get a project on 'Agri-
cultural Risk Management and Sustainabilty' (ARMAS) funded by the
European Commission. Probably deeming the proposal as prematurely novel
for Europe, the Commission's screening experts abandoned its evaluation.
Following that experience it became apparent that the literature on the
theme ought to be strengthened and emphasized through a book by a well
known publishing house. The editorial team was formed relatively quickly
and an invitation to known experts in the field for contributions was
issued. Subsequently, Kluwer Academic Publishers, evaluated an edited
volume proposal package, and final revisions were made prior to
submitting the entire manuscript for publication. We are gratefully
acknowledging the moral support of several individu- als as well as the
patience of our publishers.