Research Projects
Searching for:
- "Food rescue and food recovery"
Food rescue, also called food recovery, is the practice of collecting fresh, edible food that would have otherwise gone to waste from restaurants, grocers, and other food establishments and redistributing it to local social service agencies. It both reduces food waste and gets food to those who need it.
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:
One of the disruptions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic was the reduction of in-store shopping, and the consequent increase in online shopping and home deliveries. In response, Cascade Bicycle Club started the Pedaling Relief Project (PRP) in 2020 — a nonprofit home delivery service run by volunteers using bikes to pick up food at food banks and deliver to food bank customers, among other services. The Supply Chain Transportation & Logistics Center (SCTL) and graduate Transportation Logistics students are undertaking a research study to analyze the transport and logistics system of the PRP and provide recommendations for operations improvement.
One of the disruptions brought by the COVID-19 pandemic was the reduction of in-store shopping, and the consequent increase in online shopping and home deliveries. In response, Cascade Bicycle Club started the Pedaling Relief Project (PRP) in 2020 — a nonprofit home delivery service run by volunteers using bikes to pick up food at food banks and deliver to food bank customers, among other services. The Supply Chain Transportation & Logistics Center (SCTL) and graduate Transportation Logistics students are undertaking a research study to analyze the transport and logistics system of the PRP and provide recommendations for operations improvement.