News

News

Yona Sipos

Mayor Harrell Releases Updated “Food Action Plan” to Guide City Policies and Programs, Increase Food Security in Seattle

September 5, 2024 | City of Seattle

Yona Sipos, core faculty in the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health program is quoted in this recent post by the City of Seattle Mayor’s office, remarking, “The recently updated plan provides an impressive vision of how we can all pursue equity, sustainability, and resilience for our City and region. Food and food systems can truly act as unifying themes for communities, and the Plan’s level of detail provides clear goals and strategies to connect, learn, and contribute positively — which many of us at the University of Washington anticipate doing with students across the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health program, among others.”

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Jennifer Otten

Jennifer Otten elected president of Agriculture, Food, and Human Values Society

June 10, 2024

University of Washington faculty member Jennifer Otten has been elected the incoming president of the Agriculture, Food & Human Values Society (AFHVS), a professional organization which provides an international forum to engage in the cross-disciplinary study of food, agriculture, and health, as well as an opportunity for examining the values that underlie various visions of...

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Adam Drewnowski

Adam Drewnowski named 2024 Wilbur Olin Atwater Memorial Lecturer

March 22, 2024

The United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), has named Adam Drewnowski, professor of epidemiology at the University of Washington School of Public Health the 2024 Wilbur Olin Atwater Memorial Lecturer. The Wiblur Olin Atwater Memorial Lecture is a forum for a presentation on a scientific topic, trend, issue, or policy of the lecturer’s...

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Preview of food systems data source visualization diagram

New paper illustrates complexity of food systems data and how to close gaps

October 11, 2023

How do we support and transform sustainable food systems while maintaining and improving the nutritional status of the population? This question has become a global public health priority for international organizations, funders, academics, and policymakers.  Because food systems data are so transdisciplinary and intersect many domains such as health, nutrition, economics, society, and environment, creating...

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Food donation boxes packed with food

Survey shows food insecurity remains high in Washington state

March 8, 2023 | KOMO News

UW associate professor Jennifer Otten was interviewed in this video and article from KOMO News about the recent results from the WAFOOD survey the impacts on low income households, particularly those with children. How Washingtonians are copying with food and fuel costs is highlighted.

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Food bank employee carries box of vegetables

How WA food banks are handling a hunger cliff

March 8, 2023 | KUOW

The state of food insecurity in Washington state, as changes in federal law that will end $95 million a month in food assistance. Recently published new data from a UW and WSU survey highlights that food insecurity was highest in households made up of people of color, families with children, and among renters.

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Crowd lines up outside Seattle food bank

Fund food insecurity response in WA — and demand national fix

March 6, 2023 | Seattle Times

Editorial featured in Seattle Times highlights legislative House bill 1784 which provides aencies charged with making sure those who are food insecure are asking the state for an emergency infusion of $28 million to help increase inventories at food banks and other agencies purchasing food and supplies, help manage storage facilities, food delivery and logistics, and maintain outreach to those who may not have access or know about such services.

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Woman carrying bags of food down a snowy covered street

Food insecurity remains high in Spokane and statewide, UW-WSU survey shows

March 5, 2023 | The Spokesman-Review

Dr. Marie Spiker is quoted in this article which highlights the increasing costs of groceries and cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Food Assistance Program (SNAP), and the most recent data from the WAFOOD survey conducted by UW and WSU in December 2022 – January 2023.

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People lining up at NW Harvest food bank

Food insecurity persists in WA, just as emergency benefits expire

February 28, 2023 | Seattle Times

Story provides insight into the region’s looming hunger relief problems citing new data from the UW & WSU WAFOOD survey, and the concern that pandemic-era meal assistance benefits run out this week.

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Graphic illustration of a box of food

SNAP cuts lead to warning of “hunger cliff”

February 27, 2023 | AXIOS Seattle

Story highlighting how pandemic food aid is ending nationwide, and this change in the federal law means more than half a million households in Washington will lose a total of about $95 million a month in food assistance even as food and fuel costs remain high or increase. Data cited in the article was recently published by the UW & WSU WAFOOD survey.

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