This book is a collection of plenary sessions papers and selected invited panel papers presented in the 26th International Conference of Agricultural Economists held at Gold Coast, Australia, from 12th to 18th August 2006. Beginning with the presidential address by Prabhu Pingali and the Elmhirst lecture by Hans Binswanger dealing with global issues of agricultural growth, economic development, and empowerment of the rural poor, leading agricultural economists address such emerging and critical issues as the economics of natural disasters, international trade and marketing, food safety and health, and transformation of unfavorable poor areas, among other issues.