July 27, 2015 | seedstock

The 4th Annual Seedstock Sustainable Agriculture Conference: Innovation and the Rise of Local Food, which will take place this fall at UC San Diego, will explore solutions and methodologies that small farmers and entrepreneurs are embracing to grow more sustainably, improve access to fresh and healthy local food and manage resources more efficiently against the dueling backdrop of a lingering drought and burgeoning local food marketplace.

Slated for Tuesday, November 3 (Urban/Hydroponic Farm Field Trip) and Wednesday (Conference Day at UC San Diego), November 4, 2015, the event will explore, among other topics, how small farmers are embracing technology to grow food more sustainably, new business creation, water management, urban farming, food access and more.

Day 1 of the event offers an “Urban/Hydroponic Farm Field Trip”. A limited number of participants will have the opportunity to tour a diversity of farms in San Diego County from indoor hydroponic operations to urban farms that are utilizing innovative growing systems and business models to grow the local food marketplace in SoCal. Participants will be treated to lectures and sessions that examine farm operations that are embracing innovative supply chain models to both increase food security and take advantage of the growing market demand for local food.

Stops on the tour thus far include:

Home Town Farms – a three-acre indoor hydroponic farming operation in San Marcos, CA that grows certified organic crops as diverse as tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, peppers, and strawberries. The farm is capable of producing more than 1.5 million pounds of produce each year.

[email protected] Urban Farm – a one-acre working farm located in the heart of downtown San Diego that serves as the outdoor classroom for the Sustainable Urban Agriculture program at San Diego City College.

Sundial Farm – a family-owned farm that utilizes state-of-the-art hydroponic systems to produce high quality, organic leafy greens, including Arugula, Basil, Butter Leaf, Kale and Romaine. Sundial Farm chose hydroponic growing methods because of the imperative need for water conservation in Southern California.

Click here to learn more about the program – http://seedstockconference.com

On Day 2, attendees will convene at the Beyster Auditorium at the Rady School of Management in San Diego for a series of panels and keynotes that will address the economic impact of a burgeoning and diverse small farm economy that is embracing innovation, sustainability and community to take advantage of growing local food marketplace in cities and counties across the country.

Select speakers include:

Among other topics, conference presenters will look at:

• Indoor Agriculture and the Expansion of the Local Food Marketplace
• Innovative Business Models to Harness Local Food Demand
• Urban Farming and Local Food Access
• Water Management
• and more!

For additional information and to purchase early bird tickets, please visit: http://seedstockconference.eventbrite.com

For sponsorship opportunities, please send inquiries to: sponsor [at] seedstock [dot] com

If you are interested in participating as a conference speaker, please send your request to: participant [at] seedstock [dot] com

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Click here to purchase your Early Bird Special Ticket!