Network analysis of different types of food flows: Establishing the interaction between food flows and economic flows

Food security is performed as an important issue, which is directly related to human survival, social progress and environmental protection. The aim of this paper is to establish a holistic and new food network model that is capable of exploring the nature of food flows in response to the regulation of sectoral activities from a practical perspective. A case study for Guangdong Province, China is conducted to illustrate the influence of different food types on urban food system by combining Input Output Analysis and Ecological Network Analysis. In detail, the applicability of these methods is first extended to food element. The study on complex food system involving ecology, society, and the environment is the first time to use network analysis to quantify the urban metabolic processes. In addition, the Value intensity of flow (VIF) is first introduced to re-establish the relationship between food flows and economic flows. The results show that the indirect food flows have a huge impact on food system. Food processing (FO) and Accommodation and catering services (AC) are the most important sectors to promote and support the development of other sectors. The food type has great impacts on pulling force and the level of commercial value, while it does not affect the flows of commercial value. As a raw material in many industries, sugarcane affects the metabolic relationships between sectors.