Publications

Title	Description
Sustainable Recovery from Shocks: Policies and Partnerships for Fresh Produce Rescue and Environmental Impact Reduction February 5, 2026 Subject Areas: Rescue Researchers Involved: Torres Arroyo, Bozlak, Neff, Mu, Romeiko, Hosler, Feingold	Food policies that respond to shocks and support nutritious diets for vulnerable populations can enhance resilience, support social equity, and reduce environmental damage. This study uses a simulation model to evaluate the effectiveness of two food redistribution policies in response to a shock like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Advancing biomass-to-energy pathways: Research and development trends in microbial fuel cells for food waste valorization February 4, 2026 Subject Areas: Modeling, Valorization Researchers Involved: Miwornunyuie, Hunter, Chavis	This study presents a comprehensive analysis of research trends and technological advancements in microbial fuel cell applications for converting food waste into energy. It highlights the evolving landscape of biomass utilization from food waste and identifies future opportunities, providing valuable insights for decision-makers and researchers interested in this field.
Convergent Futures: A Process to Determine Collective Reflections, Priorities, and Visions for What’s Next January 12, 2026 Subject Areas: Design Researchers Involved: Davis, Espat, Zahra	This report encompasses a 9 month journey of our networking coming together to reflect, prioritize collective intentions, and imagine what we want to see in the rest of our grant and beyond.
A behavioral analysis of food recovery logistics volunteering using an integrated choice and latent variable (ICLV) modeling framework December 5, 2025 Subject Areas: Modeling, Rescue Researchers Involved: Mohiuddin, Chavis, Welcher, Kaminski, Chukwurah, Burke
Cultivating an ethos of “everyday convergence”: insights from the Multiscale RECIPES Network for food waste reduction October 30, 2025 Subject Areas: Design Researchers Involved: Wood, Daly, Wilson
Ontologies relevant for improving data interoperability for food loss and waste: A review and research agenda September 8, 2025 Subject Areas: Data Researchers Involved: Li, Apolzan, Roe, Wilson, Spang
The plastic footprint of U.S. agriculture August 8, 2025 Subject Areas: Data, Valorization Researchers Involved: Malarkey, Babbitt
Divert or donate? Early experiences with California’s attempt to reduce organic waste and food insecurity August 6, 2025 Subject Areas: Policy Researchers Involved: Lamoureaux, Spang
PDT: Point Distribution Transformation with Diffusion Models July 27, 2025 Subject Areas: Data Researchers Involved: Li
Methods for using worker-centered research to improve food donation and reduce wasted food in a grocery retail setting July 17, 2025 Subject Areas: Rescue Researchers Involved: Harper, Espat, Davis, Labruto, Neff
SEArch: A self-evolving framework for network architecture optimization July 10, 2025 Subject Areas: Data, Modeling Researchers Involved: Li
Drought Impacts to Water Footprints and Virtual Water Transfers of Counties of the United States June 1, 2025 Subject Areas: Modeling Researchers Involved: Konar
Carbon Footprint Assessment on the Viability of Utilizing Brewer’s Spent Grain to Produce Biochar May 15, 2025 Subject Areas: Valorization Researchers Involved: Spang
A Survey on Computational Solutions for Reconstructing Complete Objects by Reassembling Their Fractured Parts April 18, 2025 Subject Areas: Miscellaneous Researchers Involved: Li
Interactions and tradeoffs for sustainability, equity, and resilience in wasted food models April 8, 2025 Researchers Involved: Tibebu, Li, Torres Arroyo, Lessard, Bozeman, Cai, Gephart, Konar, Lee, Romeiko, Talley, Siddiqui
Invited Perspective: Should You Scrap Your Plastic Cutting Board? April 1, 2025 Subject Areas: Miscellaneous Researchers Involved: Tyler
Trade-offs between resilience, sustainabilityand cost in the US agri-food transportationinfrastructure March 6, 2025 Researchers Involved: Konar
Food waste, date labels, and risk preferences: An experimental exploration February 22, 2025 Subject Areas: Miscellaneous Researchers Involved: Wilson
CLAP: Concave Linear APproximation for Quadratic Graph Matching January 22, 2025 Subject Areas: Data, Modeling Researchers Involved: Li
AURORA: Automated Unleash of 3D Room Outlines for VR Applications January 19, 2025 Subject Areas: Miscellaneous Researchers Involved: Li
State-level policies alone are insufficient to meet the federal food waste reduction goal in the United States January 9, 2025 Researchers Involved: Kakadellis, Spang	The US aims to cut food waste in half by 2030, but this study finds that no state's policies are sufficient to meet this goal. This research suggests that stronger state and federal action, focusing on prevention rather than recycling, is needed.
School and meal characteristics associated with plate waste in K-12 cafeterias in the United States December 27, 2024 Subject Areas: Data Researchers Involved: Roe
Impact of current and historical climate shocks on crop diversification in Zambia: Insights from household- and district-level observations December 21, 2024 Subject Areas: Modeling Researchers Involved: Konar
Removal of PFOA/PFOS in Water Using Electrocoagulation and Associated Life Cycle Impacts and Financial Costs December 16, 2024 Subject Areas: Miscellaneous Researchers Involved: Mu, Romeiko
Skull-to-Face: Anatomy-Guided 3D Facial Reconstruction and Editing December 11, 2024 Subject Areas: Data, Modeling Researchers Involved: Li
Disentangled Clothed Avatar Generation from Text Descriptions November 29, 2024 Subject Areas: Data Researchers Involved: Li
Whither convergence? Co-designing convergent research and wrestling withits emergent tensions November 25, 2024 Subject Areas: Design Researchers Involved: Ashton, Sungu, Davis, Agarwalla, Burke, Duhart Benavides, Espat, Harper, Knight, Labruto, Shea, Verba, Wilson	At RECIPES, we use design to drive convergent research on food loss and waste. This paper highlights convergence as a process rather than a product - blending social sciences, creative arts, and future thinking, in fostering collaboration and innovation in our network.
Comparing Life Cycle Environmental Impacts of Food Access and Consumption Pre- and During COVID 19 in New York State’s Capital Region November 1, 2024 Subject Areas: Data, Modeling, Prevention, Rescue Researchers Involved: Mu, Feingold, Hosler, Bozlak, Neff, Torres Arroyo, Romeiko	The COVID-19 pandemic changed how households shopped for, consumed, and wasted food, impacting the environment differently across income groups. This study found that overall food-related environmental impacts decreased, but higher-income groups had greater impacts.
Qualitative Analysis of Hydroponic Container Farm Adoption, Use, and Benefits in the U.S. October 10, 2024 Subject Areas: Miscellaneous Researchers Involved: Kaminski, Babbitt	Hydroponic container farms (HCFs) are gaining popularity as a small-scale, urban-friendly farming solution, but their role in the food system is still uncertain. This study finds that while HCFs support food production, education, and workforce development, their success depends on factors like local regulations, business models, and technology costs.
Convergence Tenets and Tensions October 1, 2024 Subject Areas: Design Researchers Involved: Espat, Davis, Baluca, Weston	In 2023, our network explored what "convergence" means by engaging in conversations to develop a shared understanding of the concept. Through discussions on its purpose, challenges, and applications, we identified key areas of agreement and tension, shaping a collective foundation for our collaborative research.
Spatially Explicit Life Cycle Global Warming and Eutrophication Potentials of Confined Dairy Production in the Contiguous US September 24, 2024 Subject Areas: Modeling Researchers Involved: Romeiko
The Food Recovery Landscape in Washington, DC September 23, 2024 Subject Areas: Rescue Researchers Involved: Friedman, Ranganathan
Reimagining Food Waste September 23, 2024 Subject Areas: Rescue Researchers Involved: Goldston, Ranganathan
Fresh Rescue Champions Project Final Report September 20, 2024 Subject Areas: Design, Rescue Researchers Involved: Harper, Espat, Neff, Davis, Labruto	The Fresh Rescue Champions project, led by RECIPES and Albertsons Companies, empowered grocery employees to co-design strategies for improving food donation. Using human-centered design, the team developed 4 solutions: training, clear guidelines, stronger food bank partnerships, and an incentives contest to boost donations.
Frozen food purchasing and home freezing of fresh foods: associations with household food waste September 17, 2024 Subject Areas: Prevention Researchers Involved: Li, Roe	Freezing extends the shelf life of food. Home freezing of fresh foods and the purchase of frozen foods have been advocated as approaches to reduce food waste in US households. This paper discusses how commonly US households apply these practices, quantifies frozen food waste, and relates these practices to food waste.
Evaluating the Association between Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Chronic Disease Prevalence among Food Pantry Users in the Northeastern United States September 14, 2024 Subject Areas: Prevention, Rescue Researchers Involved: Hosler, Romeiko, Feingold
Guiding Principles and Community Norms August 5, 2024 Subject Areas: Design, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Researchers Involved: Agarwalla, Davis, Duhart Benavides	To ensure effective collaboration across a diverse network, we co-created a set of Guiding Principles and Community Norms that reflect our shared values and goals. This process, involving multiple disciplines and perspectives, helped define how we work together, ensuring our actions align with our ideals and foster a collaborative environment.
Fruit and Vegetable Consumption, Food Acquisition Behavior, and Food Insecurity Before and After the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout August 1, 2024 Subject Areas: Prevention, Rescue Researchers Involved: Hosler, Torres Arroyo, Neff, Bozlak, Romeiko, Feingold	This study assesses changes in food acquisition behavior, food insecurity, and dietary behavior and identifies factors associated with fruit and vegetable consumption during the transitional period of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study highlights the importance of food sources in understanding adult dietary behavior during the transitional period of the pandemic. Continuing efforts to monitor access to food sources, food insecurity, and dietary behavior are warranted as various COVID-related emergency food assistance measures have expired.
Fisheries and aquaculture by-products: Case studies in Norway, United States, and Vietnam June 20, 2024 Researchers Involved: Sarmiento, Neff
Have agricultural and applied economists lost sight of the land-grant mission? A textual analysis of Presidential Addresses and Invited Papers from 1919–2022 June 3, 2024 Subject Areas: Data, Policy Researchers Involved: Wilson
Understanding electric composting machines as a potential household food waste management strategy May 17, 2024 Subject Areas: Valorization Researchers Involved: Stack Whitney
Most public school districts in Rochester, NY and Albany,NY metro regions not currently composting to manage wasted food May 16, 2024 Subject Areas: Policy Researchers Involved: Tlachac, Vixamar, Stack Whitney
Watersheds and Infrastructure Providing Food, Energy, and Water to US Cities April 25, 2024 Subject Areas: Modeling Researchers Involved: Konar
Agrarianizing Climate Accords & Discord: Food, Agriculture & Agrarian Movements at UNFCCC Conference of the Parties April 19, 2024 Subject Areas: Policy Researchers Involved: Graddy-Lovelace	This paper examines how agrarian justice movements, despite being marginalized at COP talks, still influence climate talks. Through coalition-building, they challenge corporate dominance and push key issues forward.
Data for Total irrigation by crop in the Continental United States from 2008 to 2020 April 10, 2024 Subject Areas: Data, Modeling Researchers Involved: Konar
Segmenting U.S. Consumers by Food Waste Attitudes and Behaviors: Opportunities for Targeting Reduction Interventions March 1, 2024 Subject Areas: Data, Prevention Researchers Involved: Roe, Li	To reduce U.S. food waste, consumer behavior must change, as households contribute about 50% of total waste. This study segments consumers into four groups based on their waste habits and suggests targeted interventions, prioritizing the "Harried Profligates" group, which wastes the most but is open to behavior change if given practical support.
A Review of Machine Learning Applications in Life Cycle Assessment Studies February 20, 2024 Subject Areas: Data, Modeling Researchers Involved: Romeiko, Babbitt	This review explores how machine learning can enhance Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) for sustainability. It highlights the need for more data, a clearer model selection, and suggests that deep learning and interdisciplinary collaboration could further improve LCA applications for sustainability.
Optimization of National Grain Imports to Balance Risk and Return: A Portfolio Theory Approach February 13, 2024 Subject Areas: Modeling Researchers Involved: Konar	This study applies modern portfolio theory to national grain imports, balancing risk and cost-effectiveness. Using mean-variance optimization, it identifies ways for countries like Egypt, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia to reduce import risks without added costs, while others like Turkey, may need to pay more for stability.
Bolstering Integrity in Environmental Sata Science and Machine Learning Requires Understanding Socioecological Inequity February 8, 2024 Subject Areas: Data, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Modeling Researchers Involved: Bozeman
Wasted Food Listening Sessions: Understanding Citizens’ Attitudes And Behaviors December 9, 2023 Subject Areas: Prevention, Typologies Researchers Involved: Snelling, McClave
Evaluation of a Community-Based Food Waste Campaign Using a National Control Group December 9, 2023 Subject Areas: Data, Prevention Researchers Involved: Roe	This study evaluated the "Save More Than Food" campaign focused on reducing food waste in Upper Arlington, Ohio. The campaign led to a 52% net reduction in self-reported food waste and increased awareness, with 40% of respondents recalling it. The results of this study suggest the campaign successfully reduced food waste and increased composting, potentially serving as a model for local solutions to wasted food.
“We Need a Better System”: Maryland Crop Growers’ Perspectives on Reducing Food Loss Through Donation December 9, 2023 Subject Areas: Policy, Rescue Researchers Involved: Neff	This study examines the motivations and barriers Maryland farmers face in donating surplus crops to reduce food loss and support food-insecure households. While frequent donors see it as a moral duty, infrequent donors cite financial concerns, convenience, and liability, suggesting that diverse policy interventions are needed to incentivize crop donations effectively.
Semantics-Enhanced Early Action Detection using Dynamic Dilated Convolution December 9, 2023 Subject Areas: Data, Modeling Researchers Involved: Li
Structural Chokepoints Determine the Resilience of Agri-Food Supply Chains in the United States December 9, 2023 Subject Areas: Modeling, Policy Researchers Involved: Konar
Assessing the Use of Social Cognitive Theory Components in Cooking and Food Skills Interventions December 9, 2023 Subject Areas: Miscellaneous, Prevention Researchers Involved: Pflugh Prescott
Household Food Waste Trending Upwards in the United States: Insights from a National Tracking Survey December 9, 2023 Subject Areas: Data, Prevention Researchers Involved: Li, Roe	This study finds that US household waste increased by 280% from early 2021 to early 2022, hindering national reduction goals. Survey data suggests that increased dining out contributed to higher waste levels.
Spatially Detailed Agricultural and Food Trade between China and the United States December 9, 2023 Subject Areas: Data, Policy Researchers Involved: Konar
Potential Impacts of Transportation Infrastructure Improvements to Maize and Sassava Supply Chains in Zambia November 3, 2023 Subject Areas: Modeling Researchers Involved: Konar
Food, Energy, and Water Production Within Watersheds of the United States May 17, 2023 Subject Areas: Modeling Researchers Involved: Konar
Parity as Radical Pragmatism: Centering Farm Justice and Agrarian Expertise in Agricultural Policy March 28, 2023 Subject Areas: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Policy Researchers Involved: Graddy-Lovelace
Total irrigation by crop in the Continental United States from 2008 to 2020 December 29, 2022 Subject Areas: Modeling Researchers Involved: Konar
A Cluster-Based Spatial Analysis of Recycling Boundaries Aligning Anaerobic Digestion Infrastructure with Food Waste Generation in California December 9, 2022 Subject Areas: Design, Valorization Researchers Involved: Spang, Mabe
Evaluating the Effectiveness of the ‘Save More Than Food’ Campaign in Changing Food Waste Awareness and Behaviors in Upper Arlington, Ohio Households December 9, 2022 Subject Areas: Policy, Prevention Researchers Involved: Roe	The "Save More Than Food" campaign in Upper Arlington, Ohio, reduced household food waste by 23% and increased composting awareness. The study suggests community-driven campaigns can effectively cut food waste when implemented through trusted local channels.
Economic and Virtual Water Multilayer Networks in China December 9, 2022 Subject Areas: Data, Modeling Researchers Involved: Konar
Irrigation by Crop in the Continental United States From 2008 to 2020 December 1, 2022 Subject Areas: Data, Policy Researchers Involved: Konar
What predicts and Prevents Source Separation of Household Food Waste? An Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior January 9, 2022 Subject Areas: Prevention Researchers Involved: Babbitt	This study examines the factors influencing US household food waste separation, finding that attitudes, social norms, and perceived control encourage participation, while concerns about odor, pests, and messiness create a "yuck factor" that discourages it. Expanding curbside collection and educating residents on proper waste handling could help increase participation.

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