Local Food and Economic Development

This dissertation examines the potential of local food as an economic development strategy in the United States. Using an interdisciplinary approach it traces the development of the local food movement within the broader historical context of U.S. agriculture, assesses the empirical evidence for local food thus far, assesses the theoretical arguments for and against local food, and develops a new theoretical perspective to examine local food. This study finds the strongest case for local food comes from the social benefits, including food access, nutrition, and education. It suggests viewing local food primarily as community development initiative, rather than an economic development program. It suggests tactics for increasing the positive impact of local food and advocates for viewing local food as one part of the broader movement to make our economic system more sustainable.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Economics (UMKC)

Grantor dc:publisher

University of Missouri--Kansas City

Year dc:date.issued

2016

Author dc:creator

• Werner, Brian Andrew

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Forstater, Mathew, 1961-

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10355/58683

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:mospace.umsystem.edu:10355/58683