Agriculture, Food Systems & Waste Stream Innovations

Name: Agriculture, Food System & Waste Stream Innovations
Start: 2025-05-15T13:00:00-07:00
End: 2025-05-15T19:00:00-07:00
Location: The Cove at UCI Beall Applied Innovation

DATE

Thursday, May 15

TIME

1:00pm – 7:00pm

WHERE

UCI Beall Applied Innovation

Join us!

This year, we are combing our Agriculture & Food Systems Event with our annual Waste Stream Management Event to deliver an afternoon agenda packed with solutions in circularity! Join Sustain SoCal’s ecosystem to discuss agtech advancements related to soil health and water use, hear about local farm to table initiatives, discover how we can shift waste sorting behaviors, and learn what innovations lie in secondary markets.

Southern California farmers, researchers, innovators, investors, restaurant workers, non-profits, academics, and corporations of all sizes are encouraged to attend.

Topics of Interest

AgTech & Soil Health Innovations
Regenerative Agriculture
Urban Farming Efforts
Grocery Stores & Restaurant Supply Chains
Combating the Organic Waste “Ick” Factor & SB1383 Lessons Learned
SB54: Navigating the Regulatory Burdens
Hazardous Waste Solutions

Jose Arriaga

Agricultural Commissioner / Sealer of Weights & Measures

County of Orange

Jonathan Zaidman

VP of Community

The Ecology Center

Natalie Levy

Soil Health & Organic Materials Management Advisor

UC Agriculture & Natural Resources (UCANR)

Robert Sedita

Manager of Business Operations / Reporting

County of Orange

MaryKate Wheaton

Farmer

Fermentation Farm

Kim Kovacs

CEO

RENW

Matthew Geldin

Head Farmer

Farmscape

Lotus Thai

Sustainability Manager

City of Buena Park

Sara Arsenault

Partner

Public Policy Partnership

Lee Robinson

CEO & Founder

Dyrt

AJ Sexton

Director of Business Development

BioLargo

Terri Marsman

California Program Manager

PaintCare

Agenda

1:00 – 1:25	Registration & Networking
1:25 – 1:30	Welcome by Sustain SoCal
1:30 – 1:50	The State of Agriculture in Orange County Jose Arriaga, Agricultural Commissioner / Sealer of Weights & Measures, County of Orange Emily Hesselgrave, Senior Agriculture Standards Inspector, County of Orange
1:50 – 2:30	The Future of Farming in Urban Corridors Jonathan Zaidman, VP of Community, The Ecology Center MaryKate Wheaton, Farmer, Fermentation Farm Matthew Geldin, Head Farmer, Farmscape Natalie Jane Levy, Soil Health & Organic Materials Management Advisor, UCANR
2:30 – 2:50	Solutions in Compost: Data Perspective Lee Robinson, CEO & Founder, Dyrt
2:50 – 3:05	Networking Break
3:05 – 3:10	Sustain SoCal & OCWR Roundtable Overview Brigitte Donahugh, Graduate Student, MURP, Cal Poly Pamona
3:10 – 3:50	SB1383 Lessons Learned Robert Sedita, Manager of Business Operations / Reporting / Real Estate, Orange County Waste & Recycling Lotus Thai, Sustainability Manager, City of Buena Park AJ Sexton, Director of Business Development, BioLargo Rosalie Reyes, Management Assistant, City of Lake Forest
3:50 – 4:20	Volatility of Policy as a Conduit to New Partnerships Kim Kovacs, CEO, RENW Sara Arsenault, Partner, Public Policy Partnerships
4:20 – 4:35	A Look at Hazardous Items & SB1143 on the Horizon Terri Marsman, California Program Manager, PaintCare
4:35 – 4:45	Innovator Showcase Brett Blalock, Founder, Infinity Oliver Zhang, Vice President, Malaseeds Technologies
4:45 – 4:55	Meat the Future! UCI Student Presentation Fabian Silva, B.A. in Business Administration Chase Grandpre, B.A. in Business Administration Maya Villalobos, B.A. in Business Administration Jennie Le, B.A. in Business Administration Gaya Viswanath, B.A. in Business Administration
4:55 – 5:00	Closing Comments
5:00 – 7:00	Reception