NE2204: A regional network of social, behavioral, and economic food systems research

(Multistate Research Project)

Status: Active

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SAES-422 Reports

Annual/Termination Reports:

[11/06/2024] [02/08/2026]

Date of Annual Report: 11/06/2024

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 07/30/2024 - 07/30/2024
Period the Report Covers: 08/01/2023 - 07/31/2024

Participants

Cristina Connolly, University of Connecticut
Sandro Steinbach, North Dakota State University
Jared Grant, The Ohio State University
Rebecca Cleary, Colorado State University

Brief Summary of Minutes

This was the first annual meeting of the project. Participants gave an overview of the research they are conducting and avenues for incorporating mobility data. Then a discussion was held about opportunities for collaboration between group members on projects related to XXX. A plan was developed to hold monthly check-in meetings to continue progress toward achieving the primary FY 2025 goals of:

Identifying applications for mobility data within each participant’s research areas

Collaborating on research regarding food access and retailing utilizing mobility data

Accomplishments

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Publications Connolly, Cristina., Graziano, Marcello., and Steinbach, Sandro. (2024). “David versus Goliath? The Impact of Corporate Expansion in the Alcohol Retail Industry on Incumbent Small-Scale Retailers.” Journal of Wine Economics. (Forthcoming). Connolly, Cristina., Cusack, Carolanne, Morzillo, Anita T., and Charles Towe. (2024). Challenges Facing Agritourism: How Are Producers Coping. Choices. 39(3). Connolly, Cristina., Klaiber, A. (2024). Location Choice and Food Tradeoffs: Does Local Matter. Land Economics. 100(3). Steinbach, Sandro (2024). “The Corporatization of Veterinary Medicine: An Empirical Analysis of Its Impact on Independent Practices,” Journal of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association. (Forthcoming).   Awokuse, Titus , Lim, Sunghun, Santeramo, Fabio and Sandro Steinbach. (2024). “Robust Policy Frameworks for Strengthening the Resilience and Sustainability of Agri-Food Global Value Chains,” Food Policy, 127,102714.   Nganje, William and Sandro Steinbach. (2024). “Policy Options for Managing Avian Influenza in Dairy Cows,” Food Policy, 128, 102691   Gordeev, Stepan and Sandro Steinbach (2024). “Determinants of PTA Design: Insights from Machine Learning,” International Economics, 178, 100504.   Lopez, Rigoberto, Marchesi, Keenan and Sandro Steinbach. (2024). “Dollar Store Expansion and Independent Grocery Retailer Contraction,” Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 18(4): 514–533.   Connolly, Cristina, Graziano, Marcello, McDonnell, Alyssa, and Steinbach, Sandro. (2023). In Cervisia Veritas: The Impact of Repealing Sunday Blue Laws on Alcohol Sales and Retail Competition. Journal of Wine Economics. 18(4). Jiang, Qianxia, Ghosh, Debarchana, Steinbach, Sandro and Kristen Cooksey Stowers (2023). “An Empirical Assessment of Racial and Ethnic Inequities in Food Environment Exposure and Retail Market Concentration,” Public Health Nutrition, 26(9): 1850–1861.   Schweizer, Heidi, Steinbach, Sandro and Xiting Zhuang. (2022). “A Portrait of Firms that Trade in Meat Products,” Western Economics Forum, 20(2): 6–18.   Dorfman, Jeffrey H., Jared D. Grant, and Julian M. Worley. (2022). "Using Truck‐to‐Trunk Programs to  Increase Food Security and Help Support Farm Incomes." Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, 44 (2022): 1440-1447. Working Papers Kim, Dongin and Sandro Steinbach (2024). “Is the WTO Passé? The Impact of Multilateral Economic Integration on Agri-Food Global Value Chains,” FREIT Working Paper 1816. (Revision requested in the World Economy.)   Gordeev, Stepan, Jelliffe, Jeremy and Sandro Steinbach (2024). “What Matters for Agricultural Trade? Assessing the Role of Trade Deal Provisions using Machine Learning.” (2nd revision requested in Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy.)   Donghoon, Kim, Lopez, Rigoberto, Marchesi, Keenan and Sandro Steinbach. (2024). “Survival of Independent Grocery Retailers in a Changing Retail Landscape.” (Revision requested in the Journal of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association.)   Connolly, Cristina, Steinbach, Sandro, Vo, Mike and Xibo Wan. (2024). “Unlocking Insights and Overcoming Challenges with Human Mobility Data for Applied Economic Research.” (Under Review).   Craig Gundersen, Jared D. Grant, Jeffrey H. Dorfman. The Geography of Black-White Differences in Food Insecurity in the United States. (Under Review) Steinbach, Sandro and Yasin Yildirim. (2024). “Diverging Trends in National and Local Market Concentration for Veterinary Services.” (In preparation for submission) Jiang, Qianxia, Steinbach, Sandro and Kristen Cooksey Stowers (2022). “Obesity for a Dollar: What a Bargain!” (In preparation for submission) Jeffrey H. Dorfman, Jared D. Grant, and Craig Gundersen. The Relative Strength of Relationships between Food Access Components and Food Insecurity. (In preparation for submission) Jared D. Grant and Joel Cuffey. Equity in Access to SNAP Healthy Eating Incentives: Are GusNIP Retailers Located in Black Communities? (In preparation for submission) Zhao, Jiahui, Meng, Ziyi, Gordeev, Stepan, Pan, Zijie, Song, Dongjin, Steinbach, Sandro and Caiwen Ding (2023). “Key Information Retrieval to Classify the Unstructured Data Content of Preferential Trade Agreements,” Proceedings of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence AI4TS Workshop, 1–5.   Book Chapters Nolan, Connor and Steinbach, Sandro. (2022). “Hungry for Antitrust Enforcement: Retail Discounters and Food Deserts in America,” Chapter in Reforming America’s Food Retail Markets, Editor: Austin Frerick, Yale University.   Jiang, Qianxia, Steinbach, Sandro and and Kristen Cooksey Stowers (2022). “An Empirical Assessment of Racial and Ethnic Inequities in Food Swamp Exposure and Food Retail Market Concentration,” Chapter in Reforming America’s Food Retail Markets, Editor: Austin Frerick, Yale University.   Outreach and Technical Publications William Nganje, Steinbach, Sandro and Yasin Yildirim (2024). “Urgency for Enhanced Policy Intervention to Combat Avian Influenza in Dairy Cows,” Farmdoc Daily, (14): 95.   Lopez, Rigoberto,  Marchesi, Keenan and Sandro Steinbach. (2024). “Dollar Store Entry Affects Rural Grocery Stores More Than Urban,” USDA Amber Waves, May 6, 2024.   King, Martha and Sandro Steinbach. (2024). “How Global Trade and Innovation Shape the Future of Farming: Lessons from Golden Rice,” GAP Report, forthcoming. Fuglie, Burlin, Lim, Siew, Steinbach, Sandro and Mawuena Tome. (2024). “Unlocking Livestock Opportunities for North Dakota Soybean Meal in Canada,” CAPTS Report, 2024-01.     Presentations Gundersen, C, J.D. Grant, J.H. Dorfman, “ The Geography of Black-White Differences in Food Insecurity in the United States”, Paper presented at the Agricultural Economics Society Conference Edinburgh, Scotland, March, 2024. Grant, J. D, “Survival Analysis of SNAP Allowable Retailers.” Paper presented at the SNAP Healthy Eating Incentives Workshop, Auburn, AL., October, 2023. Gant, J. D, “Moving Toward a Continuous Local Food Access Measure” Paper presented at the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association Meeting, Washington D.C., July, 2023. Connolly, C., Graziano, M., Steinbach, S. David versus Goliath: The Impact of Corporate Expansion in the Alcohol Retail Industry on Small-Scale Retailers. American Association of Wine Economists Annual Meeting, Lausanne CH, 2024. Connolly, C., Graziano, M., McDonnell, A., and Steinbach, S. The Competitive Interplay Between Chain and Independent Liquor Stores: The Connecticut Case. Wine Business Conference, Willimantic, 2024.   Grants USDA-NIFA, 2023, $650,000, PI: Cristina Connolly, Project Name: “Consumer Choices and Behavior of Visitors to Farmers’ Markets: New Insights from Human Mobility Data and Artificial Intelligence” NIFA Data Science for Food and Agricultural Systems, 2021, $1,000,000, PI: Cristina Connolly, Project Name: “DSFAS-CIN: Harnessing Mobility Big Data and Artificial Intelligence Through a Transdisciplinary Research Network in Food Production, Processing, and Consumption Systems”

Impact Statements

Date of Annual Report: 02/08/2026

Report Information

Annual Meeting Dates: 07/29/2025 - 07/29/2025
Period the Report Covers: 08/01/2024 - 07/31/2025

Participants

Cristina Connolly, University of Connecticut
Sandro Steinbach, North Dakota State University
Jared Grant, The Ohio State University
Rebecca Cleary, Colorado State University
Jill Fitzsimmons, University of Massachusetts

Brief Summary of Minutes

The annual meeting was held at the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association conference on 7/29/2025 in Denver, CO. Cristina Connolly of the University of Connecticut was elected as the incoming chair and Jared Grant of the Ohio State University was elected as secretary. Participants gave an overview of the research they are conducting and avenues for collaboration. Updates were provided on a large-scale mobility dataset and discussions were held on how to secure computing power. A suggestion was made to organize a summer workshop at the Western Agricultural Economics Association conference in summer 2025 and also host the annual meeting at that time. Plans were made to hold monthly check-in meetings to continue progress toward achieving the primary FY2026 goals of:

Applying for a grant to organize a workshop dedicated to data sharing and infrastructure

Continuing to grow the network to collaborate on food and agricultural research utilizing big data

Accomplishments

During the 2025 reporting period, work under NE-2204 advanced evidence on how consumers, retailers, and communities interact within the U.S. food system. The project emphasized behavioral and spatial measures of food access and retail exposure, using large-scale mobility data, geospatial retail information, and applied economic analysis to capture where people shop and how retail environments vary across neighborhoods. In 2025, this work also supported multistate collaboration through active participation in the NE-2204 network and the start of elected Chair responsibilities for the 2025–2027 funding period. Research contributions in 2025 focused on improving the measurement of local food environments and connecting these measures to outcomes that matter for communities. A peer-reviewed study published in 2025 examined associations between neighborhood food retail environments and weight status within a regional pediatric health system, providing actionable insights into how local retail structures and access correlate with health-related outcomes. Complementary work synthesized current knowledge and emerging opportunities for applying human mobility data in economic research, helping establish best practices for data handling, modeling, interpretation, and responsible use of mobility-based indicators in food systems and related settings. In addition to published work, the 2025 portfolio advanced research on how retail access and competition shape community outcomes. Ongoing manuscripts examined how supermarket proximity affects local housing markets and neighborhood conditions. At the same time, work in preparation used mobility data and modern analytics to evaluate whether farmers’ markets can reduce food disparities by expanding access to healthy food. Together, these efforts strengthen the empirical foundation for designing local and regional strategies that improve food access, support resilient retail ecosystems, and reduce inequities in food system outcomes.

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Publications Chenarides, L., Hanks, A. S., Berard, J., Carlson, A. C., Davis, G., & Finaret, A. B. (2025). A review of data linkages for policy-informing research in food and agricultural economics. Food Policy, 137, 102996. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.102996">https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2025.102996</a> Dorfman, J. H., Grant, J. D., & Gundersen, C. (2025). The relative strength of relationships between food access components and food insecurity. Journal of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, 4(4), 523-548. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/jaa2.70029">https://doi.org/10.1002/jaa2.70029</a> Jiang, Q., Fitzpatrick, L., Laroche, H., Hampl, S., Steinbach, S., Forseth, B., Davis, A., Fairbairn, C., & Carlson, J. (2025). Associations of neighborhood food retail environments with weight status in a regional pediatric health system. Childhood Obesity, 21(2), 137–147. Connolly, C., Steinbach, S., Vo, M., & Wan, X. (2025). Harnessing human mobility data for applied economic research: Current knowledge, challenges, and emerging opportunities. Journal of Economic Surveys, forthcoming. Steinbach, S., Connolly, C., & Graziano, M. (2025). Corked until Sunday: Blue law reforms and the decline of small-scale wineries. Journal of Wine Economics, forthcoming. Working Papers Chenarides, L., Ladislau, R., Parashar, M., Hook, D., Porter, S., & Lane, J. (2025). Data-usage descriptors as search metadata: the case of food security data and the National Data Platform (2015-2025). Under review at Nature: Scientific Data — Collection: Data on Science and Innovation Processes, Outputs and Outcomes Grant, J. D., & Dorfman, J. H. Establishing grocery stores in underserved areas: A trust/investment game approach. Under review. Grant, J. D., & Cuffey, J. Racial differences in access to retailers offering fruit and vegetable incentives to SNAP households. Under review. Connolly, C., Graziano, M., Fiaschetti, M., & Steinbach, S. (2025). When access isn’t an asset: The housing market impact of supermarket proximity. Under review (submitted August 6, 2025). Connolly, C., Steinbach, S., & Wan, X. (2025). Bringing the local farm to the table: Can farmers’ markets help reduce food disparity? In preparation for submission. Liu, Y., Astill, G., Connolly, C., Dong, X., & Klaiber, H. Urbanization and crop diversification on local farms: Micro-level evidence from central Ohio using the Cropland Data Layer. Under review. Book Chapters (None reported.)   Outreach and Technical Publications Chenarides, L., & Lane, J. (June 2025). Building trust in data for research and decision-making in food and agriculture. Market Corner News, Council on Food, Agricultural, and Resource Economics.   Presentations/Webinars Industrial organization in agricultural economics: Trends and frontiers. (October 2025). Council on Food, Agricultural, and Resource Economics Webinar Series. Moderator: L. Chenarides. Envisioning food and agricultural data for the future: Engaging communities to identify trusted data. (June 2025). Council on Food, Agricultural, and Resource Economics Webinar Series. Organizer and panelist: L. Chenarides. Chenarides, L. (August 2025). The future of the U.S. statistical system. American Statistical Association virtual focus group. Contribution to The Nation’s Data at Risk: 2025 Report (published December 2025). Grant, J. D., Dorfman, J. H., & Gundersen, C. (March 2025). The relative strength of relationships between food access components and food insecurity. Paper presented at the Midwest Economics Association Annual Meeting, Kansas City, MO. Grant, J. D., & Cuffey, J. (February 2025). Equity in access to SNAP healthy eating incentives: Are GusNIP retailers located in Black communities? Paper presented at The Ohio State University Glenn College Colloquium, Columbus, OH. Rijal, A., Posey, S., & Grant, J. D. (November 2024). Access to fresh produce: Examining the impact of cultural and non-cultural barriers to farmers’ markets. Paper presented at the Tennessee State University Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science Seminar, Nashville, TN. Grant, J. D. (October 2024). SNAPshot: Analyzing food access over time. Paper presented at the Tennessee State University Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science Seminar, Nashville, TN. Steinbach, S., Connolly, C., & Graziano, M. (July 2025). Corked until Sunday: Blue law reforms and the competitiveness of small-scale wineries. Paper presented at the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association Annual Meeting, Denver, CO. Steinbach, S., Connolly, C., & Graziano, M. (June 2025). Corked until Sunday: Blue law reforms and the competitiveness of small-scale wineries. Paper presented at the American Association of Wine Economists Annual Meeting, San Luis Obispo, CA.

Impact Statements

Improved understanding of food access and retail exposure by linking consumer mobility patterns to spatial variation in retail environments across communities.
Evidence to inform local and regional decision-making about where food access gaps and inequities are most pronounced, helping prioritize retail or community-based interventions.
Methodological contributions for food systems research, including guidance on the scalable and responsible use of human mobility data for applied economic analysis.
Strengthened empirical tools for evaluating retail structure and consumer behavior, supporting analysis of market dynamics and policy options.
Enhanced multistate research capacity and collaboration through leadership and coordination within the NE-2204 network, facilitating shared priorities and knowledge exchange across regions.