The Science and Technology Behind NOURISH

NOURISH is based in convergence science, using the latest advances in computer science informed by scientific understanding of health, nutrition, community planning, and business. The NOURISH team also includes community partners who know how to make a difference at the local level.

Community Partners

The NOURISH platform is designed with and for our community partners. Through interviews and close working relationships, NOURISH addresses community needs. NOURISH harnesses community knowledge to address food insecurity, facilitating community-based entrepreneurs to create small food businesses that feed, employ and nourish their own communities.

Scientific Perspectives

The NOURISH platform is an integrated, convergence science-based solution to address critical resource and informational need gaps in food-insecure communities. We are leveraging recent advances in AI to combine food science, spatial information, and business economics, with public and private sector partners.

Geospatial Mapping Technology

NOURISH uses geospatial modeling and block-group-level geographic information systems (GIS) data to provide user-customized and optimized market data on the competitive landscape, optimal business locations, and consumer preferences for price, convenience, and taste. The NOURISH platform supports entrepreneurs in making fresh food that appeals to consumers in their specific local areas.

Artificial Intelligence

NOURISH includes a conversational AI recommendation tool that operates on a knowledge graph and utilizes geospatial analytics. The tool is constructed to capture in-depth information about food systems, community knowledge, codes and regulations, and other relevant information to facilitate small business development. Conversation with users and evolving community knowledge is used in the system to keep recommendations current.

 

The interactive NOURISH platform advances more efficient local healthy food marketplaces, and empower NOURISH entrepreneurs with personalized, locally-relevant and actionable knowledge.

Accessible through a personal computer or cell phone app, the NOURISH platform provides small business owners with access to:

  • Chat-based interface available in multiple languages
  • Loan and grant information
  • Online maps that optimize the placement of fresh
    food outlets for foot traffic
  • Help with navigating the convoluted business
    permitting process
  • AI-enabled guidance on affordable ways to locally
    source fresh ingredients.

Our team is drawing on the latest computing technology
to build this AI-enabled platform, with additional guidance from current scientific understanding of nutrition security and business development, in cooperation with partners from the communities we plan to serve. Together, this convergence of science, technology, and community forms the backbone of NOURISH.