Communicating Economic Impact Assessments: How Research Results Influence Decision-maker Attitudes toward the Local Food Sector

Mallory Rahe,Lauren Gwin,Katrina Van Dis

doi:10.5304/jafscd.2019.08c.004

Mallory Rahe, Lauren Gwin + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5304/jafscd.2019.08c.004

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Abstract

The local food sector continues to evolve as consumer preferences for economic, environmental, and social values create markets for a range of products. Although measuring the economic impact of these complex systems can provide new insights, it remains challenging. This paper provides evidence of the effectiveness of presenting economic impact results to decision-makers as a way to increase public-sector interest in developing a small and growing local food system. Surveys of local leaders and statewide service providers indicate that most local decision-makers who were presented with the economic impact results say they are now more supportive of local food system development, especially in rural areas. In this region, both producing the economic impact study and pursuing a strategy for communicating the results of this study have promoted thinking about the potential of local food production in new ways and have informed conversations with policy-makers.

Highlights

Introduction and Literature ReviewThe continued growth and long-term viability of local food systems depend on public and private investment of financial, political, and social capital
For the economic impact assessment, we focused on small to midsized local food producers, both crop and livestock, who primarily, but not exclusively, marketed their products within Central Oregon
The responses of urban audiences illustrate the ongoing challenges in both collecting accurate data from this industry and exclusively relying on economic impact analysis to justify public investment in the local food sector

Summary

Introduction

The continued growth and long-term viability of local food systems depend on public and private investment of financial, political, and social capital. In pursuit of this investment, food system practitioners increasingly are identifying ways to measure and communicate the multifaceted benefits of local food systems (Brown, Goetz, Ahearn, & Chyi-lyi, 2013; Lev, Brewer, & Stephenson, 2003; Sharp, Clark, Davis, Smith, & McCutcheon, 2011). Economic impact in particular is thought to be a critical and convincing metric While this is relatively easy to measure compared to other impacts of food systems, there is still tension and confusion about how to measure it accurately. Little research has focused on the effectiveness of communicating these results to decision-makers

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