| West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum and partners will host the West Michigan Food Waste Summit on Monday, May 21 at the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education at Grand Rapids Community College, the capstone event of the Western Michigan Food Recovery Council pilot project. RSVP here. The half-day event will provide an opportunity for businesses, institutions and other stakeholders to learn about food waste and discuss local challenges and opportunities for food rescue and recovery. Keynote speaker is JD Lindeberg, President of national sustainability consulting firm Resource Recycling Systems and a prinicipal researcher for the Rethink Food Waste Through Economics and Data (ReFED) Roadmap. The Roadmap to Reduce U.S. Food Waste was the first-ever national economic study of food waste to provide a feasible guide for action. ReFED’s 27 recommended solutions seek to unlock new philanthropic and investment capital, along with technology and policy innovation, to catalyze over 15,000 new jobs, recover nearly two billion meals for the hungry, and achieve significant reductions in our national water use and greenhouse gas emissions. Breakout sessions include: - A Proven Model for Prepared Food Recovery: FireKeepers Casino
- Business Case for Starting Up A Compost Program
- Reducing Cost and Waste Through Source Reduction Programs
- Overcoming Real and Perceived Barriers to Food Donation
- Composters Roundtable: Barriers and Opportunities
- Leveraging Surplus Food to Impact Student Hunger
The Food Waste Summit is presented through a collaboration of West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum, Secchia Institute for Culinary Education at Grand Rapids Community College, the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Grand Valley State University, the Michigan Local Food Council Network, and other council members. Attendees are encouraged to have their organization participate in the pre-summit survey. WMSBF is currently collecting data from council members and other stakeholders in preparation for the summit and a report on current food recovery and organic recycling practice, opportunity, and needs in the region. The survey can be found here. West Michigan Food Waste Summit
Monday, May 21
11:30 am to 4 pm
Secchia Institute for Culinary Education
Grand Rapids Community College
151 Fountain St. NE
Grand Rapids, 49503
$15 online / $25 at event | 
