A Novel Smart Digital Infrastructure to Deploy Targeted Means-Tested Subsidies that Drive Improvements in Nutritional Choices and Alleviate Food Deserts

Existing approaches to alleviate food deserts typically focus on providing subsidies to chain- store grocers that open supermarket options in underserved populations. Scientific research indicates that model may not be the most effective as evidence suggests that proximity is not a primary driving factor of food access. Recent studies indicate that new types of means-tested subsidies may be more effective than supply-side subsidies to chain stores. Further community- led food organizations and cooperatives show increased likelihood of engagement by populations served. The goal of this Phase I R&D is to determine feasibility for a proprietary digital infrastructure to provide the mechanisms to deploy means-tested subsidies while also complying with data privacy regulations. The result will provide new types of means-tested subsidies and data-driven decision making models to be deployed and utilized on individual community and stakeholder bases. Additionally this research will conduct social science research interviews and statistical surveys to gather a preliminary basis of understanding how means-tested subsidies may be successfully deployed and how community-led organizations/stakeholders can be better equipped to design and implement policy to alleviate food deserts and nutritional insecurities. In partnership with Eastern Community and Technical College Universal Schedule and Booking aims to determine feasibility to deploy means-tested subsidies in real-time bases using a selection of potential deployment options. This research aligns with the National Institute of Food and Agricultural Topic 8.5 Research Priorities of developing portable technologies for nutrition security food safety and quality data tools.