Community, place, and proximity: Social network analysis identifies actors and their connections within a local food network

Localized alternative food systems are characterized by complex networks of cross-sectoral individuals and organizations. Understanding these actors and their relational dynamics can help to identify where strategic opportunities might lie to strengthen local food systems. This study provides a case study of local food system actors and their connectivity within a peri-urban region in Australia (Illawarra Shoalhaven region of New South Wales). Using social network analysis, this study mapped actor ties and attributes and analyzed characteristics of the network such as density, path length, and structure. Purposive sampling was used to recruit the first “wave” of participants, and snowballing was used to recruit two subsequent waves. Data were collected via online surveys and analyzed using NodeXL. The study identified 242 actors in the local food network who are connected through 492 links. The network was highly relational; however, it was highly clustered, and paths between actors were often long. It is characterized by sectoral heterophily, with people connecting to others from different backgrounds, and geographical homophily, with communities grouping into “micro-networks” according to their subregional location. This social network analysis provides empirical evidence of a dynamic local food network characterized by cross-sectoral interconnectivity and geographical clustering, including the identification of proximal micro-networks. Food-based initiatives and community organizations are important connectors within the network and operate at a hyper-local subregional level. These findings have implications for future work to strengthen local food systems in the Illawarra Shoalhaven region, with potential applicability in other settings.