Food Trade Sustainability Leadership Initiative

2007-08 Workshop and Advisory Group Meeting Schedules
Workshops | Advisory Group Meetings | 2006-2007 Workshop Archive

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Advisory Group Meetings 2007-08

January 25, 2008 from 12pm to 2pm: Ecological Farming Conference. Contact Natalie for more information
       Finalize Declaration language and draft sign-on commitments

March 8-11, 2008: Natural Products Expo West, in-person;
       Finalize sign-on commitments

May 9-12, 2008: All Things Organic, in-person;
       Determine Declaration sign-on process

Food Transportation Challenges and Renewable Fuels Forum was a Great Success!

“We were given information which we could actually use to benefit the environment and our company.”

“Getting together with other like-minded people in a similar business was great. Establishing contacts to discuss common problems was very useful. I found the networking aspect very constructive.”

“I learned about the $$$ that can be saved by increased truck efficiency and alternative fuels!”

January 25, 2007—Organic produce wholesalers, distributors, growers, and retailers gathered to learn about ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to transition to renewable fuel sources in their medium and heavy duty trucks. Currently the food distribution system remains largely dependent on conventional mode of transportation. This continued dependence on fossil fuels poses many threats to the food trade from being hit with price spikes to contributing to global warming. The workshop explored two main topic areas:1)alternative fuels and power systems—hybrid truck technology, spectrum of bio based fuels; 2)improving existing fleet efficiency—aerodynamics, idle reduction, increasing routing efficiency).  Participants discussed the benefits and drawbacks of various technologies with experts in the trucking field including staff from the West Coast Collaborative of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Natural Resource Defense Council, the Hybrid Truck Users forum, Rock Mountain Biodiesel Consulting, the National Highway Demonstration, and former National Renewable Energy Laboratory staff.  Leading food companies who have undertaken various measures to shared their experiences. Following the workshop participants took part in a 1.5 hour forum on how the food trade can continue to collaborate and move the sustainability agenda forward.

March 9, 2007 — The National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA), a business services co-op with more than 100 independent food co-op members nationwide, is hosting “Sustainability in the Produce Supply Chain Forum” at Natural Products Expo West in Anaheim , Calif. on Friday, March 9 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

The forum, which is part of the Food Trade Sustainability Leadership Initiative organized by the University of Oregon ’s Resource Innovations, will bring together various parties in the produce supply chain to discuss how these parties and cooperative grocers can transition toward a more sustainable food distribution model. The event will be held at the Anaheim Hilton, 777 Convention Way , in the San Simeon Room A/B.

“As pioneers in the natural and organic food industry, food cooperatives are always striving to innovate ways of doing business that raise the bar for the entire organic marketplace,” said Robynn Shrader, chief executive officer for NCGA. “We expect the forum to generate lively, thought-provoking and productive conversation that drives forward this essential initiative.

Hundreds Met to Discuss Food Packaging and Sustainable Alternatives

“This information on upstream and downstream energy and resources needed to make different types of packaging was very useful to our store.”

“ We appreciated the take home resources at the conference were great. We appreciate having consolidated info at our finger tips, since we're so busy growing food, we just don't take the time to dig into meaty research about sustainable energy.”

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Power Workshops Inspire Participants

“The workshop really motivated our farm to calculate our "footprint" and take it one small step at a time from there. we've got a lot to do yet, but we're inspired!”

“The discussion on peak oil was eye opening and frightening.”

March 16, 2007—The food distribution system is principally reliant on polluting and non-renewable sources of energy, this continued dependence on conventional sources of energy poses many threats to the food trade from being hit with energy price spikes to contributing to global warming.  This month dozens of natural and organic food businesses met to discuss how to increase energy efficiency in their operations and transition to non polluting renewable energy sources. Speakers included Charlie Stephens of Adjuvant Consulting, Mark Kendall Senior Policy Analyst at the Oregon Department of Energy, Mark Hamilton a Principal at Strategic Energy Group, Alan Hickenbottom the Director Commercial and Industrial Division Energy Outfitters, Jaimes Valdez the Renewable Energy Outreach Coordinator for the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, and Jonathan Lewis is the President and founder of Seraphim Energy. Hamilton and Kendall shared energy efficiency measures business can employ in lighting, heating and cooling, industrial refrigerators, warehouses and other buildings.  Hickenbottom and Lewis focused on on-site solar and small wind power opportunities including the financial incentives and grants to make these investments pencil out. Finally, Valdez discussed how carbon-emissions offset programs can be used to mitigate negative carbon impacts of current energy use. 

Join the Initiative!  

To learn more about participating in this program contact:

Natalie Reitman-White, Program Coordinator at (541) 346-1609; nwhite@uoregon.edu

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