Implementing Solutions to Address Grand Challenges

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2

Apps for Ag Hackathon

8:30am, UC Davis Conference Center: A two-day hackathon to develop software solutions to grower challenges. Kicking off on December 2nd, the event ran overnight and concluded with judging and awards in the afternoon of December 3rd at the Summit.

AgStart Sustainable Agriculture Tour

9:30am – 5:00pm: Participants toured a showcase of leading technology and process innovations in agricultural and food systems across the greater Sacramento region. Hosted by AgStart, Yolo County, and the World Food Center.

Mixing Bowl Idea Hack

11:00am, UC Davis Conference Center: Tackling the biggest challenges at the interface of food, ag and health, the Idea Hack kicked off at 11:00am and concluded with judging and prizes during the afternoon.

Summit Reception

5:00pm, UC Davis Walter A. Buehler Alumni Center: Participants enjoyed a reception and mixer for regional technology and agriculture leaders in food and health innovation. It provided entrepreneurs, farmers, industry executives, researchers, students, and technology developers a great opportunity to trade perspectives and insights.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3

Solution Summit

8:30am Welcome

9:00am Discussion Panel: Prominent Challenges in Modern Food, Ag & Health (Moderator, Justin Siegel)

  • Harold Schmitz, Mars, Incorporated
  • Matthew Lange, Initiative for Wireless Health & Wellness, UC Davis
  • Justin Shimek, Mattson
  • Eve Turow Paul, Generation Yum
  • Joaquin Ruiz, University of Arizona

10:15am Keynote Speaker: Bryan Willson, Colorado State University

11:00am Fast-Pitch Start-up Company Showcases

  •  Tule Technologies
  •  Foodfully
  •  Corigin
  •  Mango Materials
  •  Bitwater Farms
  •  SafeTraces
  •  WaterBit
  •  Ceres Imaging

1:00pm Keynote Speaker: Angela Glover Blackwell, PolicyLink

1:30pm Discussion Panel: Technology Translation (Moderator, Josette Lewis)

  •   Chris Olin, Tao Capital
  •   John Pasquesi, Otter Capital
  •   Eric O’Brien, Fall Line Capital
  •   Ron Meeusen, Cultivian Sandbox

3:00pm Fast-Pitch Research Presentations: UC Davis Faculty

  • Charlotte Biltekoff, Food Science and Technology
  • Sidika Karakas, Human Health
  • Chris Simmons, Food Science and Technology
  • Nir Oksenberg, Institute for Food and Agricultural Literacy
  • David Mills, Food Science and Technology
  • Frank Mitloehner, Animal Science
  • Julie Herlihy, Global Health

4:00pm Keynote Speaker: William Rosenzweig, The Food Business School of The Culinary Institute of America

4:30pm Idea Hack Presentations

5:15pm Apps Hack Presentations & Judging

6:00pm Reception