Bernadette Andreosso-O'Callaghan offers a comprehensive description and analysis of the EU agricultural system in a global context. Starting with introductory and theoretical chapters on how agricultural markets work, the book explores the historical developments leading to the Common Agricultural Policy. A full chapter devoted to innovation and technological change evaluates the impact of new ideas and techniques in European agriculture over several centuries. Topical issues such as the enlargement to Central and East European countries and CAP reforms, the problems of GMOs, food security, food safety and poverty alleviation are also dealt with in the book. Finally, the theme of the EU as a major global agricultural producer and trader in the world leads to the analysis of WTO negotiations, and also to the examination of the EU preferential trade regimes with respect to a number of developing economies, such as the ACP (African, Caribbean and Pacific) countries.