| The structure of West Virginia's food systems is analyzed within the context of a changing structure of the U.S. and global food systems. Further, the economic role of food systems in West Virginia is investigated both at the state and an industry level using a combination of a descriptive analysis and an impact analysis. ARCVIEW is used for mapping in the descriptive analysis. The impact analysis is done using an input-output model. The descriptive analysis by itself cannot be used to draw definitive conclusions regarding the role of West Virginia's food systems; thus, in addition to the descriptive analysis, an input-output analysis using IMPLAN is executed to incorporate the interdependence of the food system with other sectors of the economy by estimating economic multipliers. In 1997, the value-added contributions with the multiplier effects represented a little more than double the amount of direct contributions made by the state's food systems. |
