New NSF-funded UW project will use smart sensors to fight hunger, reduce food waste, and increase food access
Seattle will soon pilot the first connected network of community food micro-pantries in the U.S., using smart sensors to track supply and demand. Led by the Urban Freight Lab at the University of Washington, the project aims to predict food needs, reduce food waste, and ensure donations reach neighbors who need them most.
The UW has received a $700,000 Stage 2 award from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Civic Innovation Challenge (CIVIC 3.0) to scale and test this model. The multidisciplinary team from the University includes researchers from the Urban Freight Lab (UFL), Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering (Allen School), UW Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences (DEOHS), and the School of Public Health. These teams will work alongside civic partners Cascade Bicycle Club, the University District Food Bank, Sustainable Connections, and the Washington State Department of Health, as well as industry partner Ridwell.