Continuing Education and Conference Center
Saint Paul Campus,
University of Minnesota
View a PDF copy of the conference program.
View conference presentations below.
Conference Goal
The goal of this conference, held on June 2, 2015, was to bring together waste management practitioners and researchers to envision a future for management of organic wastes in Minnesota. This conference asked “How do we close the loop on organic wastes?”
- What are the highest and best uses of various types of organic wastes?
- Where are the big opportunities?
- How do we overcome barriers of change?
- How can food utilization be improved to reduce wastage?
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Conference Talks (PP slideshows to be added shortly)
8:00 a.m. Welcome and Conference Goals Larry Baker, Research Professor, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, and John Jaimez, Organics and Recycling Specialist, Hennepin County
8:10 A Federal Perspective on Transitions in Policy for Organic Waste. Congressman Keith Ellison, Minnesota District 5, U.S. House of Representatives (via video)
8:20 Prospects for Innovation in Minnesota Organic Waste Policy. Representative Frank Hornstein, Minnesota House of Representatives, District 61A (no slideshow).
8:30 Wasting Less Food Together. JoAnne Berkenkamp, Senior Advocate, Food and Agriculture Program, Natural Resources Defense Council
9:00 Strategies for Achieving Zero Waste in San Jose, California. Stephanie Molloy, Supervising Environmental Specialist, City of San Jose, California.
10:00 Path to Zero Waste: Walmart’s Organics Journey. Kate Worley, Walmart Stores Inc.
10:30 The Rendering Industry’s Contribution to Sustainability. David Meeker, Senior Vice President, Scientific Services, National Renderers Association.
11:00 Wastewater Treatment and Organics. Jason M. Willett, Director, Finance and Energy, Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES)
1:00 Overview of Waste Not Research. Larry Baker, Research Professor, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, Daniel Nidzgorski, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, Jennifer Schmitt, Research Associate, NorthStar Initiative for Sustainable Enterprise, Institute on the Environment, and Carl Rosen, Professor, Soil, Water and Climate, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, University of Minnesota.
1:25 Potential for Utilizing Food Waste for Animal Feed. Gerald Shurson, Professor, Swine Nutrition and Management, Department of Animal Science, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, University of Minnesota.
1:50 Energy and Chemical Extraction from Waste Organics. Roger Ruan, Qinglong Xie, Yanling Cheng, Shiyu Liu, Peng Peng, Bo Zhang, Paul Chen and Larry Baker, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, Gerald Shurson and Pedro Urriola, Department of Animal Science, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, University of Minnesota
2:15 Policy and Politics of Urban Innovation: Minneapolis and Beyond. Sara Hughes and Jacqueline Peterson,University of Toronto.