Introduction: Agribusiness clusters in Europe, 19th and 20th centuries

Clusters and the spatial concentration of economic development are themes which crop up more and more in recent debates in social and economic history. This special issue wants to foster an interdisciplinary crossover of theories and ideas between economic geographers and historians, and focuses on the development of several branches of agribusiness (dairy, horticulture, olive oil and agricultural machinery) in South-western and North-western Europe during the past two centuries. The five case studies unravel and analyse the connections and interdependencies between economic actors, knowledge institutions and the State in the agro-food chain. This analysis results in four main conclusions. Firstly, in the formation of regional economic clusters not only natural conditions played a major role, or other economic determinants such as an easy access to markets. Social and cultural connections between individuals and organizations that were shaped over time, and related to geographical proximity, were important too. Secondly, governments, entrepreneurs and interest organizations, who were firmly rooted in the region’s history, often cooperated and stimulated cluster development via regulatory frameworks, educational and scientific policies. Thirdly, not only consensus but also discord and competition can foster the clustering of economic activities. Finally, multi-scalar perspectives are needed in order to grasp the importance of connections between clusters and actors outside the region