Research Projects
Searching for:
- "Food insecurity and food security"
Food insecurity refers to a household-level economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to sufficient quantities of quality food that meets people's dietary needs as well as food preferences. Food security refers to having stable physical and economic access to sufficient nutritious, affordable, and suitable foods.
Start Date: October 2025
Funding: U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Computer & Network Systems (CNS)
Project Budget: $700,000
Partner(s): Ridwell, Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, Cascade Bicycle Club, Washington Department of Health, Sustainable Connections, University District Food Bank, School of Public Health, Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences
Summary:
This project explores how micro-pantries—small, decentralized, community-run food pantries and fridges—can complement traditional hunger relief while reducing food waste. Our team is deploying wireless sensors, building a centralized information system, and collaborating with public health experts to improve food safety, efficiency, and access. This first-of-its-kind research aims to close gaps in food rescue and distribution by building a connected, hyper-local network that empowers communities to share safe, high-quality food.
This project explores how micro-pantries—small, decentralized, community-run food pantries and fridges—can complement traditional hunger relief while reducing food waste. Our team is deploying wireless sensors, building a centralized information system, and collaborating with public health experts to improve food safety, efficiency, and access. This first-of-its-kind research aims to close gaps in food rescue and distribution by building a connected, hyper-local network that empowers communities to share safe, high-quality food.
Start Date: October 2024
Funding: U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Computer & Network Systems (CNS)
Project Budget: $74,999
Summary:
The Urban Freight Lab will implement wireless sensors in neighborhood micro-pantries to monitor inventory, expiration dates, and local demand and supply patterns, aiming to optimize food distribution and safe storage.
The Urban Freight Lab will implement wireless sensors in neighborhood micro-pantries to monitor inventory, expiration dates, and local demand and supply patterns, aiming to optimize food distribution and safe storage.
Start Date: September 2022
Funding: Urban@UW
Principal Investigator(s): Dr. Giacomo Dalla Chiara
Summary:
Food security, defined as access at all times to nutritious food, is a necessary condition for human beings to thrive and have an active and healthy life. In Seattle, about 13 percent of adults experienced food insecurity. Moreover, food security is not equitably distributed across the population. Food insecurity is more common in households with young children, with single parents, with incomes below 185 percent of the poverty threshold, in Black and Hispanic populations, and in principal metropolitan areas.
Food security, defined as access at all times to nutritious food, is a necessary condition for human beings to thrive and have an active and healthy life. In Seattle, about 13 percent of adults experienced food insecurity. Moreover, food security is not equitably distributed across the population. Food insecurity is more common in households with young children, with single parents, with incomes below 185 percent of the poverty threshold, in Black and Hispanic populations, and in principal metropolitan areas.
Start Date: January 2022
Summary:
This project studies the Pedaling Relief Project in Seattle, a volunteer bike-based system that supports food rescue, grocery delivery, and pantry restocking. It looks at how cargo bikes move food between food banks, businesses, and community pantries as part of a last-mile delivery network. Using real operational data, the project examines how the system works in practice and where it can be improved. The goal is to better understand and strengthen volunteer-powered food delivery systems in cities.
This project studies the Pedaling Relief Project in Seattle, a volunteer bike-based system that supports food rescue, grocery delivery, and pantry restocking. It looks at how cargo bikes move food between food banks, businesses, and community pantries as part of a last-mile delivery network. Using real operational data, the project examines how the system works in practice and where it can be improved. The goal is to better understand and strengthen volunteer-powered food delivery systems in cities.