The papers included in this volume deal with the emergence of the dairy sector, a business that in many ways mirrors the long term articulation of the agro-food sector and the formation of the modern national state. The themes highlighted are the long term formation and transformation of the sector by analyzing institutional, structural and technological changes at farm and industry level. The perspectives are global, national, but also thematic. The articles highlight the interplay between policies, state actions to reduce or change transaction costs, as well as the environment in which the dairy sector has evolved over time. In this context, the role of the state has been especially highlighted. The chapters follow a thematic order and have been organized into four sections. The first contains an introductory global overview of the sector with the articulation of the industry from the 19^th century until today. The second section is composed of national experiences The third part of the book contains five chapters, all devoted to specific topics focused on politics, corporatism, competition, environmental issues and modernity. Lastly, the final section contains three chapters on traditional dairy cultures and their way into modernity.