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VIRTUAL SUMMIT | SEPTEMBER 14 & 15, 2021 | 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Sustainable Food Management

for the greater St. Louis community

This collaborative event occured on September 14-15, 202.  This summit engaged stakeholders across the food system in the St. Louis community to discuss various topics about reducing food waste and gaining best use out of excess food. View presentations and resources below.

 

September 14 | Main Session Introduction Slides | Breakout Session Summary

September 15 | Main Session Introduction Slides | Breakout Session Summary

 


Keynote Presentation

Photo of Sue Marshall

 

"Too Good to Waste:
Food Byproduct Upcycling for a Sustainable Future."

Sue Marshall | Founder/CEO,

View Presenter Slides

Panel Discussion

"Food Donation Policy and Local Examples of its Benefits"

 

Photo of Jean Ponzi

Moderator:
Jean Ponzi
Green Resources Manager
EarthWays Center at Missouri Botanical Gardens

  Photo of Ariel Ardurs Photo of Martin Bethea Photo of Katelyn Majors

 

Ariel Ardura
Senior Clinical Fellow

Martin Bethea
Concession Manager
slides

Katelyn Majors
Director of Product Acquisition

 


Panel Discussion

"The Various Voices of Food System Stakeholders"

Photo of Jess Watson Photo of Maggie McCoy
Dr. Jessica Watson
Executive Director

slides
Maggie McCoy
Education & Volunteer Coordinator
Photo of Hope Gribble Photo of Kristen Wild
Hope Gribble
Education & Green Schools Manager

slides
Kristen Wild
President & Chief Executive Officer

slides

Local Resources

Blackbird Foundation

The believes that redundancy in the social sector leads to a waste of precious resources. The Blackbird Foundation partners with sustainable organizations that are implementing and discovering long-term solutions to our local and global challenges. Right now they are actively building partnerships to help measure our food waste baseline in St. Louis, Missouri.

Watch a presentation from Danielle Korman, researcher for the Blackbird Foundation, discuss their .

Earthday365

seeks to inspire and mobilize a collaborative movement towards an equitable and environmnetally sustainable St. Louis region every day.  They envision a resilient, interconnected, and thriving human and natural environment for all generations through their values of equity, education, action, collaboration, and celebration.  

Through , , and the , Earthday365 reaches more than one million people annually.

   

Food Outreach

鈥檚 mission is to provide nutritional support and enhance the quality of life of men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS or cancer. Food Outreach clients live in 160 Missouri and Illinois zip codes and range in age from 5 to 88 years 鈥 many of whom live with multiple secondary illnesses in addition to their primary diagnosis. They serve their mission through:

  • &
Food Pantry Tax Credit (Missouri)

The provides a tax credit for taxpayers who make donations of cash or food supplies to a qualified local food pantry, homeless shelter, or soup kitchen.

F.R.E.S.H. Community Teaching Garden

The East Side Health District (ESHD) was established in 1937. Over its history the East Side Health District has been devoted to improving public health and the environment of the residents of Cantten Township, Centreville Township, East St. Louis Township and Stites Township by providing preventive health care throughout our community. The is our latest Program to support ESHD鈥檚 mission of wellness promotion in the community.

Fresh Food Connect (mobile app)

started as a pilot project in Denver, CO.  Its successes led to technology that engages backyard gardeners and community gardeners in hunger relief efforts.  You can connect with that can provide your food to those in need.

Gateway Greening

edcuates and empowers people to strengthen their communities through gardening and urban agriculture.  Through , , and the Gateway Greening connects people to the land, to their food, and to each other.

Green Dining Alliance (GDA)

The is a restaurant sustainability certification program through .  The GDA works with restaurants to reduce their environmental impact by completing an on-site audit that evaluates all areas of operations, and setting personalized goals with each Member.

The GDA operates throughout the St. Louis region with an emphasis on the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County.

Interdisciplinary Center for Food Security

The mission of the is to better understand and address the causes and consequences of hunger and food insecurity. Through research, teaching and engagement, the Center seeks to build food secure communities in Missouri and beyond.

   

Link Up Illinois

The is increasing the affordability and accessibility of nutritious fresh fruits and vegetables sold in Illinois. By funding Link Match programs at farmers markets, farm stands, food co-ops, independent grocery and corner stores for low-income Illinoisans, they are rebuilding the connection between local agricultural producers and families most in need. In addition to funding, Link Up Illinois also provides participating markets and food outlets with training and technical assistance for implementing these nutrition incentive programs successfully.

Missouri Botanical Garden

Founded in 1859, the Missouri Botanical Garden is the nation's oldest botanical garden in continuous operation and a National Historic Landmark.  The Garden is a center for botanical research and science education, as well as an oasis in the city of St. Louis. The Missouri Botanical Garden's is driven by the need to protect and conserve plants and their ecosystems. Significant resources are invested in developing and sharing new discoveries in and and using that knowledge to help manage those ecosystems here and around the world.

Much of the Garden's education and outreach is conducted through the .  Environmental education is provided through , , , , and that promote sustainable human behaviors and choices related to the food we eat, the homes and buildings we construct and operate, the products we produce and consume and the transportation methods we employ.

Missouri Coalition for the Environment (MCE) Local Food System

As industrialized agriculture has proliferated across Missouri and the Midwest, MCE has worked to support farmers who have remained committed to using environmentally responsible practices despite pressure from industry and incentives from the government to farm using other practices. One of the best ways to support environmentally responsible practices is to educate consumers in the farmers鈥 local 鈥渇oodsheds鈥 about their practices and where to buy their products. MCE also works to help these farmers get their products into more institutions, grocery stores, and other markets. 

Missouri Department of Natural Resources Waste Management Program

The works hard to help all Missourians better manage their solid wastes. Through the cooperative efforts of citizens, businesses, industry and government, Missouri can continue to increase material reuse and recycling from all solid waste sources. Reducing the amount of solid wastes generated remains the program's primary goal.

Missouri Recycling Association

The provides value by connecting people, offering industry insights, and influencing policy to support our economy and business in extracting the highest and best use of materials at end of life. 

Learn more about food waste resources .

OneSTL Food Waste Recovery

is a collaboration to encourage and support greater sustainability across the eight-county St. Louis region. A dynamic network of organizations and individuals sharing ideas, expertise, and resources to meet our regional sustainability goals.

Waste reduction and diversion are sustainable practices ensuring efficient materials use and reduction of the amount of space and money devoted to landfills.  The comprises of multiple communities and organizations working on waste reduction and recycling efforts, including food waste reduction.

Operation Food Search

is a hunger relief organization that provides , and proven to reduce food insecurity. With a strategic focus aimed at ending childhood hunger, OFS empowers families and increases access to healthy and affordable food. The agency provides food and services to 200,000 individuals on a monthly basis 鈥 one-third of whom are children 鈥 through a network of 330 community partners in 27 Missouri and Illinois counties and the city of St. Louis. 

St. Louis Area Food Bank

The is working to create a stronger, healthier where no one goes to bed hungry.  Their mission is to build stronger communities by empower people with food and hope.

 

St. Louis Composting

Founded in 1992 by eco-enthusiast Patrick Geraty, is the region's largest compost producer. Together, their composting facilities process over 1,000,000 cubic yards of green material annually 鈥 more than one-third of all yard waste generated in St. Louis County. In addition to composting yard trimmings gathered by the area鈥檚 major waste haulers, they receive, and compost material collected from landscapers and homeowners. They transport and process over 500 tons of organic food waste each week, keeping our landfills free of this organic debris.  St. Louis Composting has 7 locations in the St. Louis metro area and other locations throughout Missouri, including Kansas City.

St. Louis Green Business Challenge

The , a program of , has delivered 鈥淭riple Bottom Line鈥 results (fiscal, social and environmental) to businesses of all types and sizes across the St. Louis region. The Challenge provides a forum for businesses to incorporate sustainable practices that improve financial performance and engage their employees.

Participants identify and voluntarily adopt strategies that improve financial performance and reduce environmental impacts, while engaging employees toward both workplace and community benefits. 

Learn more about how your business can participate .

Start Here St. Louis

is a resource hub for a variety of needs, including food programs and pantries.  Find a list of services in your area.

Total Organics Recycling

Founded in 2014, is locally owned and a leader in commercial organics recycling in the St. Louis metropolitan area. They haul and recycle over 300 tons of organic waste each week from local businesses, restaurants, schools, entertainment venues, and organizations. 

They serve as a full-service partner for organics recycling. We on what is compostable, , and then process it into nutrient-rich with our eco-partner . The entire process is hassle-free, keeping usable, beneficial food waste out of our landfills, and in the process, eliminating greenhouse gas emissions inherent to their conventional disposal. 

University of Missouri Extension - St. Louis

is the outreach and engagement arm of the University of Missouri system providing research-based educational programs for youth and families, businesses and communities, and horticulture. MU Extension is known as a valued and trusted resource for Missourians; providing programming needs throughout the 90 municipalities of St. Louis County in addition to residents in St. Louis City.

Wasted Food Action Alliance

is a diverse set of organizations helping build a unified approach towards reducing wasted food and leveraging it to benefit our region.  These organizations collaborate to combat wasted food by creating solutions geared toward the US EPA hierarchy preventing food loss, rescuing/ redistributing edible food, and recycling food through composting and other technologies.

2018 St. Louis Climate Summit

The 2018 Saint Louis Climate Summit brought together some of the most authoritative minds in climate science, ecology, sustainable development, and related disciplines for three days of discussion on climate change. The summit highlighted key issues, celebrated notable achievements, and elucidated a path forward. Many of the speakers and panels were hosted at facilities in Grand Center, near the campus of Saint Louis University. 

Watch the Summit

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This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement #AI97756601 to 红领巾瓜报 Environmental Finance Center. The contents of this page do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does the EPA endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial products mentioned on this page.