Food Systems & Nutrition

Factors sustaining a nutritious and healthy diet based on how food is produced, processed, sold, marketed and consumed.

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Projects

• Washington State Food System Assessment

  To respond to sustained high rates of food insecurity, food supply chain disruptions, and disproportionate impacts related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the State of Washington via the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has asked the University of Washington to conduct an assessment of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and risks affecting Washington’s food system, with...

  Project Lead/PI: Jennifer Otten

  Research Area(s): Food Access, Food Systems & Nutrition

• Assessing Resilience in Washington Agriculture: Impacts of COVID-19 on Farms and Ranches

  Through interviews and surveys of farmers, ranchers, agricultural service providers, and other stakeholders, the project team is seeking to better understand the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on farms and ranches in Washington State, and the capacity of farm businesses to adapt to the disruption. Key to understanding these dynamics is the online WA Farm...

  Project Lead/PI: Sarah Collier

  Research Area(s): Food Systems & Nutrition

• WAFOOD: Examining the Impacts of COVID-19 and related factors on Food Systems, Food Security, and Food Access in Washington State

  The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted multiple components of the food system: food production and food supply chains were destabilized, consumer purchasing power was greatly reduced for many, and new challenges appeared across sectors that persist today. There remains a high need for public assistance programs and food from local food banks. Food systems are changing, perhaps forever, and the...

  Project Lead/PI: Jennifer Otten Adam Drewnowski

  Research Area(s): Food Access, Food Systems & Nutrition

• Identifying Direct Market Opportunities and Challenges for King County Farms

  Small farm businesses have found profit in direct-to-market sales, but often find that they need better marketing and promotion support in order to sustain and amplify that profit. King Conservation District (KCD) and key stakeholders identified direct marketing support for farmers as a 2018 strategic initiative area for investment and contracted with the University of...

  Project Lead/PI: Jennifer Otten

  Research Area(s): Food Systems & Nutrition

• Fish, health, and vulnerable populations: Exploring the Potential for Policy and Diet Solutions

  On the US West Coast, rich and underutilized fishery resources exist alongside low income, nutritionally vulnerable populations. This pilot project aimed to examine the potential scope and mechanisms for improved utilization of available seafood to improve diets and reduce incidence of non-communicable disease burdens in poor and marginalized US coastal communities. It had the following...

  Project Lead/PI: Jennifer Otten

  Research Area(s): Food Access, Food Systems & Nutrition, Global Nutrition, Social Determinants of Health

• Livable City Year

  Livable City Year works with cities, counties, tribes and special districts of all sizes and budgets. Our partnerships can have a broad range of timelines and scopes based on community needs. Hundreds of students benefit by tackling real-world challenges. Partner cities benefit from bold and applied ideas that propel fresh thinking, improve livability for residents,...

  Project Lead/PI: Jennifer Otten

  Research Area(s): Food Systems & Nutrition

• Seattle Obesity Study I: Food Environment, Diet Quality & Disparities in Obesity

  Develop ways to offer dietary advice that takes food preferences, usual eating habits, and financial limitations into account. Helping low-income consumers obtain high-quality diets at an affordable cost may be the key strategy for stemming the obesity epidemic among the disadvantaged groups.

  Project Lead/PI: Adam Drewnowski

  Research Area(s): Food Systems & Nutrition, Social Determinants of Health

Recently Added Resources

• WAFOOD Brief 12 – Food Security and Food Assistance in the Wake of COVID-19: A 4th Survey of Washington State Households

  Published February 16, 2023, this brief focuses on findings from WAFOOD4 (December 2022/January 2023) and examines changes in food insecurity and food assistance in Washington State households as Washingtonians continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and food prices rise. Initial Findings A total of 5,052 Washington State residents responded to the WAFOOD4 survey. Among...

  Research Area(s): Food Access, Food Systems & Nutrition

• Washington State Food System Assessment Report

  This report was prepared for the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) and published online December 14, 2021. Titled The State of the Washington State Food System During COVID-19: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead, the report provides an in-depth assessment of the state of Washington’s food system during the COVID-19 pandemic and identifies strengths, weaknesses, and ongoing risks affecting Washington’s food system, as...

  Research Area(s): Food & Nutrition Policy, Food Access, Food Systems & Nutrition, Social Determinants of Health

• WA State Tribal Food Survey Report – Food Insecurity and Food Access in Washington State Tribal Communities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

  Published December 7, 2021, this report shares findings from the WA State Tribal Food Survey, a joint project between the Northwest Tribal Epidemiology Center (NWTEC), the University of Washington School of Public Health (UWSPH), and Tacoma Community College (TCC) that aimed to better understand the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the wellbeing, food security,...

  Research Area(s): Food Access, Food Systems & Nutrition, Social Determinants of Health