Seattle is preparing to launch the nation’s first connected network of community food micro-pantries, equipped with smart sensors to track supply and demand. The pilot, led by the Urban Freight Lab (UFL) at the University of Washington, aims to predict food needs, reduce waste, and ensure donations reach those who need them most.
The initiative is funded by a $700,000 award from the National Science Foundation’s Civic Innovation Challenge (CIVIC 3.0). It brings together a multidisciplinary UW research team—including experts in city logistics, computer science, environmental health, and nutrition—with a wide range of civic and industry partners. These include Cascade Bicycle Club, University District Food Bank, Sustainable Connections, the Washington State Department of Health, and Ridwell.
Each partner plays a specific role: from deploying wireless sensors and developing food safety guidelines, to piloting household food collection and expanding volunteer delivery networks. Cascade’s Pedaling Relief Project, for example, will use routing tools to improve bicycle-based food deliveries, while the Food Bank will apply project tools to strengthen its distribution network.
Food insecurity remains a growing challenge. In 2023, 13.5% of U.S. households and nearly 10% of Washington households struggled with reliable access to food. In Seattle, local hunger relief organizations have seen a 50% increase in demand over the past decade. Micro-pantries—small, volunteer-run fridges and cupboards located in public spaces—have emerged as a grassroots response. Researchers identified more than 275 active micro-pantries across Seattle, collectively distributing around four million pounds of food annually—surpassing the state’s largest food bank.
By retrofitting these sites with sensors, UW and its partners will create a “cyber-physical” network that anonymously monitors usage, donations, and food safety. This real-time data will enable communities to manage food flows more effectively, strengthen local supply chains, and reduce waste. If successful, Seattle’s model could become a blueprint for other cities seeking innovative, community-driven food logistics solutions.