Using social network analysis to understand and enhance local and regional food systems

Formal and informal social networks play a critical role for the functioning and development of communities and economies in any region and at any scale. Networks are comprised of diverse relationship types ranging from familial, to friendship, to commercial exchange. This chapter describes the use of social network analysis (SNA) as an approach to understand how relational dynamics affect the nature of local and regional food systems. In contrast to other modeling approaches that take a more aggregated view of systems, such as an entire sector, economy or community, SNA allows for observation of relationships among individuals, businesses and other food system actors, through interactions such as business transactions, collaboration, or sharing advice and information. This chapter presents an overview of the history and uses of SNA, with particular focus on applications in applied and civic food systems research within the past decade. We offer key concepts, a step-by-step consideration of the elements of SNA research design, suggestions for primary data collection and analysis through a featured case study, and a set of scenarios applying SNA to inform and inspire the organization and design of future food systems research.