Food & Beverage Waste Reduction Workshop

Pollution Prevention (P2) Technical Training for Food and Beverage Manufacturing and Processing Facilities

The Food & Beverage Industry Sustainability Workshop will introduce food processing and manufacturing professionals to technology applications, pollution prevention strategies and infrastructure investments with the potential to reduce food loss and waste at source, improve operational efficiency, and prevent pollution.

Food manufacturing and processing facilities in Michigan are missing opportunities to optimize production or create new revenue streams through process efficiency, pollution prevention, byproduct utilization, packaging design and acceleration of entrepreneurial ideas.  In fact, approximately a billion dollars of economic value is lost each year to Michigan’s farms and food manufacturers as unharvested food, shrinkage, or other inefficiencies in the supply chain.  

Central Michigan University and Michigan Sustainable Business Forum are collaborating on an initiative to promote sustainability improvements and food and loss prevention  recommendations for food and beverage manufacturers.  

The free workshop will feature an introduction to food loss and waste in Michigan, provide an overview of available solutions and vendors, discuss resource efficiency and sustainable manufacturing through pollution prevention applications, and provide implementation support from university and industry experts.  

Lunch will be provided. 

Trainers:

• Goksel N. Demirer, Professor, School of Engineering and Technology, Central Michigan University
• Maggie Williams, Assistant Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University

Guest Speakers:

• Daniel Schoonmaker, Michigan Sustainable Business Forum
• Holly Rogers-Rios, Responsible Sourcing Manager, Kalsec
• Steve Brickel, Environmental Specialist, Founders Brewing Company

Workshop Will  Discuss:

• Innovative methods of source food waste reduction
• Line optimization and efficiency strategies
• How to develop a framework for implementing pollution prevention programs in existing practices or while upscaling an operation
• Pollution prevention as it relates to materials, processes, and practices that reduce or eliminate waste
• Case studies that are replicable across the sector as other businesses either transition their operations or are upscaling

Agenda:

9:00 am – Registration & Networking (Refreshments)
9:30 am – Workshop
12:30 pm – Lunch
1:00 pm – Implementation Activity
1:30 pm – Adjourn

This event is a part of the EPA funded project Pollution Prevention (P2) Technical Assistance and Training to Food and Beverage Manufacturing and Processing Facilities and Community Partners Located in Communities in Michigan.