The 19th Annual California Bioresources Alliance Symposium was held on November 19-20, 2024 at the University of California, Davis. 2024’s theme “Refining California’s Future: Innovating Together for a Thriving Circular Bio-Economy,” brought together experts, innovators, and community leaders to discuss and drive the future of California’s bio-economy.
SPEAKERS

Russel Adams

Daniel Adler

Brian Bauer

Patrick Beckett

Christopher Danch

Jim DiPasquale

James Dunbar

Paul Erickson

Lauren Fondahl

Jeff Greef

Regina Guerra

Mike Hart

Stephen Kaffka

Brian Kolodji

Rod Kux

Valeria La Saponara

Maile Lono-Batura

Michael Long

Sandrine Matiasek

Eric Mayer

Jonna Mazet

Karen McDonald

Fernando Mora

Somen Nandi

Somayeh Nassiri

Erik Nelson

Dan Noble

Sanjal Parikh

Lynda Paxton

Nathan Rich

Roger Ruan

Greg Shipley

Christopher Simmons

Michael Theroux

Darek Trowbridge

Kelpie Wilson

Yamin Yazdani

Boon-Ling Yeo

Joseph Yonkoski

Gabriel Youtsey

Angel Zhang

Ruihong Zhang

Jeff Ziegenbein
AGENDA
DAY 1: Tuesday, November 19th
8:30- 8:45
Welcome
- Lauren Fondahl, Biosolids Coordinator, Water Division, U.S. EPA Region 9
- Jonna Mazet, Vice Provost, UC Davis Grand Challenges
8:45 – 9:15
Opening Keynote
- Krystal Acierto, Deputy Secretary for Public Policy, Cal EPA (RECORDING HERE)
9:15 – 10:00
Session 1: Transformation through Collaboration (RECORDING HERE)
- Moderated by Paul Dodd, Associate Vice Chancellor, UC Davis Grand Challenges
- Karen McDonald, Professor, UC Davis Chemical Engineering
- Dan Noble, Executive Director, Association of Compost Producers
- Jim DiPasquale, Wood & Biomass Utilization Program Manager, USFS
- Dan Adler, Deputy Director for Climate Finance, iBank
10:00-11:15
Session 2A: Biorefining (RECORDING HERE)
- Moderated by Michael Long, Principal, Long Thermochemical
- Mike Hart, CEO, Sierra Energy & President, Sierra Railroad Company
- Paul Erickson, Professor, UC Davis Mechanical & Aeronautical Engineering
- Greg Shipley, CEO and Founder, Bioenergy Design, LLC
- Brian Bauer, CEO, Resynergi
- Roger Ruan, Professor, University of Minnesota Dept. of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering; Center for Biorefining
11:15-11:30 Break
11:30- 12:30
Session 2B: Biorefining (RECORDING HERE)
- Moderated by Steve Kaffka, UC Davis Cooperative Extension Specialist and Director, California Biomass Collaborative
- Kelpie Wilson, Engineer and Consultant, Wilson Biochar Associates
- Rod Kux, Operations Lead, Takachar Limited
- Jeff Greef, CEO, Plumas Wood Fiber
- Ruihong Zhang, Professor, UC Davis Biological and Agricultural Engineering
12:30-1:30: Lunch and Poster Session
1:30-2:30
Session 3: Alternative Technologies (RECORDING HERE)
- Moderated by James Dunbar, General Manager, Lystek
- Ramin Yazdani, Associate Professional Researcher, Air Quality Research Center, UC Davis
- Russel Adams, Managing Member, Advanced Organic Materials
- Valeria La Saponara, Professor, UC Davis Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Brian Kolodji, Founder and CEO, Kolodji Corporation
2:30-3:30
Session 4: Bioresource Contaminant Management (RECORDING HERE)
- Moderator: Maile lono-Batura, Director of Renewable Resource Program, CASA
- Joseph Yonkoski, Biodigester Engineer Supervisor, UC Davis Renewable Energy Anaerobic Digester (READ)
- Lynda Paxton, Principal, Waste Reduction Enterprises, LLC/Phenix Resources
- Angel Zhang, Environmental Scientist, CalRecycle
3:30-3:45: Break
3:45-4:45
Session 5: Community Bioresources (RECORDING HERE)
- Moderated by Michael Theroux, Vice President, JDMT Inc.
- Christopher Danch, Executive Director, Ojai Valley Fire Safe Council
- Nathan Rich, CEO, Strong Heart Consulting, Tribal Representative for North Coast Resource Partnership
- Fernando Mora, Pomo Tribe
- Boon-Ling Yeo, UC Davis Biological and Agricultural Engineering
4:45-5:30 Wrap Up and Poster Session
5:30-7:00 Reception
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DAY 2: Wednesday, November 20th
9:00-9:15
Welcome and Announcements (RECORDING HERE)
- Lauren Fondahl, Biosolids Coordinator, Water Division, U.S. EPA Region 9
9:15-10:30
Session 6: The Future of Compost (RECORDING HERE)
- Moderator: Jeff Ziegenbein, President, CA Association of Compost Producers
- Regina Guerra, Founder and CEO, Be the Earth
- Patrick Beckett, Environmental Engineer, BioFiltro
- Dan Noble, President, Noble Bioresources, Inc.
10:30-10:45 Break
10:45-11:30
Session 7: UC Davis Bioresources Research (RECORDING HERE)
- Moderator: Ruihong Zhang, Professor, UC Davis Biological and Agricultural Engineering
- Somayeh Nassiri, Professor, UC Davis Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Somen Nandi, Adjunct Faculty in Chemical Engineering, Founder & Managing Director, Global Healthshare Initiative
- Christopher Simmons, Dept. Chair and Professor, UC Davis Food Science & Technology
- Sanjai J. Parikh, Associate Professor, UC Davis Dept of Land, Air, and Water Resources
11:30- 12:00
Wrap-Up Final Discussion and Q&A (RECORDING HERE)
- Lauren Fondahl, Biosolids Coordinator, Water Division, U.S. EPA Region 9
- Ruihong Zhang, Professor, UC Davis Biological and Agricultural Engineering
- Dan Noble, President, Noble Bioresources, Inc.
- Michael Theroux, Vice President, JDMT Inc.
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Optional Additional Activity:
1:00 Optional Tours:
UC Davis Renewable Energy Anaerobic Digester (READ; UC Davis Campus)
Sierra Northern Railway Zero Emission Hydrogen Fuel Cell Locomotive (West Sacramento)
Lystek’s Fairfield OMRC Site (Fairfield)
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
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