SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — Penn State Schuylkill will host a community-focused roundtable, “Harvesting Insights: Using Data and AI to Map Local Food Needs,” on Thursday, May 14, bringing together regional partners to explore innovative approaches to understanding and addressing food insecurity.
The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Penn State Schuylkill and is designed to help local organizations better identify and respond to community food needs using emerging data tools and artificial intelligence (AI). Advanced registration is required, and seating is limited. Each participant will receive a $20 gift card for their participation.
The roundtable will include collaborative discussions on identifying gaps in food access, as well as demonstrations of AI use cases that can help organizations analyze and interpret data more effectively. Participants will also have opportunities to network and share insights over lunch.
The event is part of a broader research initiative titled “AI-Enabled Community Data Framework to Address Food Insecurity Data Gaps in Berks and Schuylkill Counties,” led by S. Hakan Can, professor of criminal justice at Penn State Schuylkill, in collaboration with faculty partners from Penn State Berks.
The project aims to better understand how communities can use data — including non-traditional and locally sourced information — to make more informed, equitable decisions about food distribution. The initiative focuses on developing a framework that integrates artificial intelligence tools with community-driven data collection while prioritizing privacy and ethical data use.
With approximately 12% of residents in Berks and Schuylkill counties living in poverty and more than 110,000 individuals qualifying for food assistance, organizers said improving access to reliable, localized data is critical. Current challenges, including fragmented data systems and limited access to timely information, can make it difficult for food banks and community organizations to effectively allocate resources.
Community collaborators on the project include Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank, local service providers and regional stakeholders, as well as QLands Data Management LLC, which serves as a technology adviser.
Through this initiative, researchers and community partners aim to map decision-making needs, identify alternative data sources and co-design an AI-supported framework that can help guide future investments in food access strategies. Organizers said the effort aligns with Penn State’s land-grant mission by supporting community-driven solutions and promoting equitable access to resources.
The May 14 event is expected to serve as a key step in gathering input from community members and organizations, helping to shape future tools and strategies to address food insecurity across the region.