C2ST Speakeasy: “Urban Farming and Closed-Loop Production” with Eric Weber

June 7, 2016

Pint
1547 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL, USA

Program Series:
Technology and Engineering

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What kinds of technology are involved with helping reduce and reuse food waste in an urban food production setting? Plant Chicago’s Farm Technology Coordinator, Eric Weber, will discuss some of the projects being explored at The Plant, and how they fit into the larger world. These projects focus on various parts of the circular economy as it relates to food production, from the actual production of food to the energy used in both production and processing, as well as how to handle the waste products generated. Attendees will be introduced to controlled environment growing systems for the production of fish, plants, mushrooms, and algae. On the other end of the spectrum, methods of handling waste products resulting from food production and processing will be discussed. These waste projects revolve around either diverting material to other uses (such as feed stock or growing media), or methods for turning material into fuel sources (anaerobic digestion, biomass brick production). Other building systems currently in use or in the planning stages address many other parts of the equation, such as rainwater harvesting, greywater management, building utility monitoring and building environmental control. All of these projects together try to address as many parts of the circular economy as possible. The hope is to create an overall system that not only helps minimize the impact of an operation such as The Plant, but to also serve as a replicable model for other businesses, large or small.

Click here to see Eric Weber’s slideshow:

https://dev.c2st.org/sites/default/files/attachments/events/16/Plant%20Chicago%20C2ST%202016.pdf

 

Event Details

C2ST Speakeasy is held on the first Tuesday of every month. Attendance is free, but registration is strongly encouraged. To register, click HERE or on the “Get Tickets” button below. Seating is first come, first serve, and registration does not guarantee a seat.

**C2ST Speakeasy has moved!** On June 7th, C2ST Speakeasy will be held at Pint at 1547 N Milwaukee, just south of the Damen stop on the Blue Line. We will be using the private back room at Pint.

Food and beverages are available for purchase at Pint (see menu)

Speaker

Eric Weber

Eric has been with Plant Chicago since 2012, when he started as an Aquaponic Systems Intern. He now leads Plant Chicago’s Technology Demonstration projects, working closely with staff, other building tenants and outside professionals to investigate the latest in food and energy reuse. Previous to Plant Chicago, Eric worked for seven years in the ornamental aquarium industry. After earning a BA in Industrial Design from the University of Illinois at Chicago, he spent five of those years designing, installing and maintaining marine aquariums. He applies his knowledge and experience with living creatures and controlled environment life support technology to explore ways of reusing energy and waste created at The Plant.