

The Future Food 21 Conference Webinar Series is an opportunity for food processors, suppliers, economic developers, and other supporters to hear from leading industry executives, government leaders, and technology experts about the latest trends in the 21st Century food processing sector. Don’t miss this opportunity to get the latest information and network with your peers by registering today.
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THE CONFERENCE SERIES
WHAT YOU WILL HEAR
If you already registered for the live event, there is no additional cost. You are already registered for the entire Conference Webinar Series and will receive a Zoom webinar link reminder prior to each webinar. If you haven’t registered, there is a one-time charge of $15.00. You can link into all the webinars or just one. You can decide now or the morning of the event once you are registered because we will send out a reminder webinar link one hour before each webinar. Which ones you attend is completely up to you, but we know you will be getting great insights about the food processing sector from among the best experts in Michigan. Remember, the link for each webinar will be shared with those who are already registered or register in the future prior to each event.
These webinars will be known as Hot Topic Fridays and Technology Tuesdays beginning with a general kick off event on September 24, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. featuring Todd DeKryger, Ph.D, Regional Supplier Development Manager - Agriculture at Nestlé Nutrition North America (Gerber) as the keynote speaker along with other special guests. The breakout webinar sessions will be held at 9:00 a.m. each time as noted in the following schedule (dates subject to change depending on final schedule):
Technology Tuesdays: October 12 and 26; November 9 and 23; December 14
Hot Topic Fridays: October 1 and 15; November 5 and 19; December 3 and 17
If you already registered for the live event, there is no additional cost. If you haven’t registered, there is a one-time charge of $15.00. You can link into all the webinars or just one. It’s up to you, but we know you will be getting great insights about the food processing sector from among the best experts in Michigan. The link for each webinar will be shared with those who are already registered or register in the future.
The COVID 19 pandemic was and continues to be one of the most significant challenges the food processing industry has ever faced with respect to employee health, supply chain and logistics, and consumer wants and needs among other issues.
Our webinar series does not get into the details of the pandemic situation but touches on many of the ramifications and impacts the issue has and continues to have on the food processing industry.
Trends that were apparent before the pandemic such as consumer preferences for healthier food have grown stronger. For example, Ms. Paula Martin, a culinary medicine expert from the Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities will offer insight into what food processors should know how to meet these changing consumers’ preferences. More importantly, the impact food processors can have on people’s health and well-being by shifting to healthier, clean label processing. Other speakers from Michigan State University will address how shifting to healthier food products can lead to success.
Other trends that were apparent before the pandemic and continue to be front and center today revolve around more sustainable business practices that not only have a positive impact on the environment, but also the bottom line. Energy efficiency and renewable energy, waste reduction, and sustainable packaging are also branding opportunities with many consumers making purchasing decisions predicated on how sustainable a food processor company is.
The Future Food 21 conference will feature key speakers that address these sustainability issues such as Mr Tom Manske, the Director of External Partnerships-Sustainable Packaging Innovation from the Kellogg Company; a speaker from the Michigan Israel Business Accelerator who will review advancements in Israeli packaging technology; a sustainable energy asset manager from Generate Capital that owns the Fremont Regional Digester, and experts from utility companies that will offer insights about achieving more energy-efficient operations or using alternative energy sources to achieve sustainability goals.
But that’s not all, other key topics will feature speakers that will cover the latest trends in workforce and housing issues within the food processing sector, as well as supply chain and logistics. As for future technology, an executive from Michigan-based Somnio Global will discuss how their technology is a game-changer for the sector by extending the shelf life of fresh produce for both transportation and cold storage. A truly “made in Michigan” story. The webinar series will also feature an executive from a leading Canadian company that has developed QA/QC technology to keep on top of the shelf life of food products to reduce spoilage and increase profits.
Series Schedule
Webinar Kickoff Event
September 24
Host
Marty Gerencer, WMFPA
Multiple Speakers
Bill Huizenga, Gary McDowell, Todd DeKryger, Ph.D., Lindsay Hager
Food and Agriculture Workforce and Housing Overview
October 1
Ashley Batteen
Recruitment, Professional Development, and DEI Officer, MDARD
Hot Topic Fridays
Joseph Rivet
Deputy Director, MDARD
New Innovations in Food Waste Processing and Management
October 12
Dan Radomski
Director, Centropolis Accelerator at Lawrence Tech University
Technology Tuesdays
Case Study Examples
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Food Waste Recycling-Zero Waste to Landfill Goals
October 15
Matt Goodman
Asset Management, Generate Capital
Hot Topic Fridays
Produce Shelf-Life Extension Using Cold Plasma Technology
October 26
Tejasvi Chunduri
Technical Leader, Somnio Global
Technology Tuesdays
Overcoming Supply Chain Challenges
November 5
Michael Lahti
Managing Director, Tamarack Holdings
Hot Topic Fridays
Bill Knudson
Agricultural Economist, MSU Product Center
Sustainable Packaging
November 9
Bernard Bourgeois
Director, Ecosystem Development at Michigan Israel Business Accelerator
Technology Tuesdays
Tom Manske & Shannon Moore
Director of External Partnerships - Sustainable Packaging Innovation; Led Packaging Engineer; Kellog Company
Food as Medicine
November 19
Paula Martin, MS, RDN
Community Nutrition Policy Specialist, Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities
Hot Topic Fridays
Brandon Seng
Owner, Michigan Farm to Freezer
Advanced Food Growing Technology
November 23
Nichole Wilcox
VP of Commercial Lending, GreenStone Farm Credit Services
Technology Tuesdays
Tim Vogelzang
CFO for Revolution Farms LLC
Opportunities in Healthy Food Processing
December 3
Jamie Rahrig, MPH, RDN
Michigan Good Food Fund Specialist, Innovation Counselor
Hot Topic Fridays
Dr. Velonda Anderson
Energy Waste Reduction in Food Processing
December 14
Duane Watson
Agriculture Program Specialist/Energy Advisor at Consumers Energy
Technology Tuesdays
Jerry Zolkowski
Principal Engineer at DNV GL