Food Clusters, Rural Development and Creative Economy

Authors

  • Anne Lee University of Waterloo
  • Geoffrey Wall University of Waterloo

Abstract

This paper presents a conceptual framework that outlines the formation of a food cluster as part of creative rural development, transforming the 'comparative advantages' of a place into 'competitive advantages' by enhancing a local food production and consumption nexus. A conceptual framework is proposed that emphasizes four facilitators that constitute the innovation process that underpins the creation and operation of food clusters as place-based rural development. The framework is used to guide information acquisition, analysis and presentation in a case study of SAVOUR Muskoka, a food cluster in Ontario, Canada. Together, the framework and case study show how the innovation process involved in the formation of a food cluster contribute to the rural development of a creative food economy.

Author Biography

Anne Lee, University of Waterloo

Anne is originally from Seoul South Korea and educated in Canada. in 2012 she received her PhD in Geography and Environmental Management from the University of Waterloo; she also completed International Development Studies as well as MBA at the University of Guelph.

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Published

2015-02-27

Issue

Section

Case Studies