Applied Data Science for Food Access: Farm2Facts and FEAST

Presented by Olivia Nygaard, Kaufman Lab

Collaborators: Alfonso Morales, Planning and Landscape Architecture; Abe Megahed and Steve Wangen, Data Science Institute; and Garrett Smith, TRAD

This discussion will explore how data-driven tools can generate meaningful insights that support food access and equity decision-making. Using Farm2Facts and FEAST (Food Equity Access Simulation Technology) as case studies, the session will examine how metrics move from data collection to interpretation, modeling, and application. Farm2Facts collects standardized data from farmers’ markets, including metrics related to sales, food access programs, vendor participation, and community engagement. FEAST builds on similar data sources through computational modeling and simulation to evaluate food access scenarios and equity outcomes. Together, these tools highlight complementary approaches to measuring and interpreting food system data.

The session will feature brief presentations from collaborators in data science and TRAD, followed by facilitated discussion and interactive activities. Attendees will examine real examples of metrics, visualizations, and model outputs and discuss challenges such as data quality, interpretation, scalability, and usability across disciplines and audiences. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how interdisciplinary collaboration strengthens applied data tools and how metrics can be transformed into actionable insights for food systems research and practice.