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The digital revolution over the past 25 years has transformed the way we communicate, learn, conduct business, purchase goods and obtain information. Industrialization, urbanization and market globalization have led to significant shifts in lifestyle, eating behavior and food choices worldwide.
NYC Food Policy Center’s latest report examines how technology can help the food system. The report is the first in a series of five about innovation and technology in the food system.
The goal of these reports is to inspire readers–including academics, researchers, community-based organizations, funders, social entrepreneurs, policymakers, government agencies and others involved in the food movement to think about innovative, technological ways to overcome the challenges facing the food system. These challenges include food insecurity, access to healthy food, food waste, food safety and food-related chronic diseases.
This first report discusses and demonstrates ways that technology can help food-insecure individuals access and afford food. Though not a solution to poverty and the other root causes of food insecurity, technology can make it easier for people to sign up for and use federal food assistance benefits, learn about resources in their communities, access nutrition education, plan low-cost meals and save money while grocery shopping. This report and upcoming reports include many examples that demonstrate creative solutions to complex food system issues, and also identify areas where new technological developments are needed.