Co-creating resilient community food systems: A systems approach using group model building

INTRODUCTION: Local food systems are shaped by complex and interdependent social, economic, environmental, and cultural factors that influence population health and resilience. The Latrobe Valley (LV) in Victoria, Australia, presents a compelling case study: a region in economic transition, facing health inequities, yet rich in agricultural heritage and community engagement. This study applied systems science and co-creation to explore the LV food system and develop an action plan to enhance its health, sustainability, and accessibility. METHODS: Group Model Building (GMB) was employed through three facilitated workshops recruiting 38 participants, representing health professionals, local government, consumers, agronomy experts, and researchers. The process was built on a previous long-term relationship between academics and community partners, both of which were involved in decisions about GMB design. Participants collaboratively developed a Causal Loop Diagram (CLD) that describes the relationships between causal factors affecting access to healthy and sustainable food in the LV. RESULTS: Participants identified several key system interactions shaping food access in the Latrobe Valley, such as the reinforcing relationship between socioeconomic disadvantage and food relief demand, the reinforcing loop between food literacy, healthy eating norms, and community engagement, and the opportunity-constraint tension around local food production and fresh food availability. These insights informed the generation and prioritisation of community-led actions to improve affordability, availability, and healthy food literacy. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the value of systems thinking and co-creation in designing adaptive, inclusive, and context-sensitive interventions. It supports the community in creating actionable pathways toward a more resilient local food system.