August 16, 2012 | seedstock

The Seedstock Sustainable Agriculture Innovation Conference, to be held at UCLA Anderson School of Management on October 24, will feature a Who’s Who lineup of Speakers and Sponsors

Los Angeles, CA — Some of the best-known names in sustainable agriculture will bring their innovative products and ideas to the Seedstock Sustainable Agriculture Innovation Conference, a one-day event focused on highlighting the economic benefits of growing food sustainably.

The conference, which will take place at UCLA Anderson School of Management, will examine how innovative farmers and entrepreneurs are turning their passion for sustainability into business opportunities.

Speakers and panelists who have already confirmed their attendance represent a Who’s Who of entrepreneurs who are proving that commitment to sustainable practices and sourcing can inspire creative, successful businesses, while strengthening local food systems.

Confirmed speakers include:

Colin and Karen Archipley of Archi’s Acres turned a run-down avocado farm into a flourishing, state of the art organic hydroponic operation. That was just the beginning. The Archipleys then used their business to train more than a hundred veterans (Colin proudly served in the Marine Corps) to become sustainable farmers and entrepreneurs. Now they are taking their Veterans Sustainable Agriculture Training (VSAT) program nationwide.

Sam Earle of Local Food Systems, Inc. (LFS), a technology start-up based in Philadelphia, PA. LFS is “making a market” by connecting high-volume buyers––such as corporate food services, distributors, and grocery –– through the LFS transactional infrastructure, to a network of local food participants (farms and aggregators, carriers, and processors). At the core of LFS is an online Exchange where suppliers can see demand from high-volume buyers or post just in time products, and buyers order aggregated supply using their existing purchasing technology.

Erik Oberholtzer, who is shaking up the definition of fast food as Chef/Co-Owner of the quickly expanding Tender Greens restaurants. With a farm to table approach, Oberholtzer’s restaurants offer healthy, delicious organic food that’s fast and affordable. Oberholtzer and his partners have opened eight locations in the last six years, with more to come.

Jesse DuBois and Dan Allen run Farmscape, a service that takes landscaping to the next level by designing and maintaining urban farms that produce delicious, organic fruits and vegetables. Farmscape is the largest urban farming venture in Southern California.

Other innovative businesses that will be represented at the conference include Whole Foods Market, EVO Farm, a commercial urban farming operation that utilizes aquaponics, and Home Town Farms, a high tech vertical farming company, among others.

Click here for the Conference Registration Page.

About Seedstock:

Seedstock is a social venture focused on innovation and sustainability in agriculture. Through the use of a variety of tools, including the news and information blog Seedstock.com and live events, the company promotes agricultural startup companies, university research, urban agriculture initiatives, and farmers employing innovative new techniques and approaches.