Edward "Ned" Spang, Ph.D.
Professor Ned Spang researches the connections between food, energy and water systems, with an emphasis on identifying opportunities to deliver and use these critical resources more efficiently. His current research includes estimating and valuing the water and energy savings achieved by reducing food waste, and studying the potential for community-scale energy production from food waste using containerized anaerobic digestion systems. He is on the faculty of the UC Davis Food Science and Technology Department and is the founding faculty member of the UC Davis Food Loss and Waste Collaborative.
Rep. Chellie Pingree
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-ME) is a national leader on food policy, including issues involving local food, food waste and organic agriculture. She serves on the House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees federal funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. Before becoming involved in politics, Pingree’s first job was running a small farm with her husband and selling produce locally. She served in the Maine State Senate for eight years, including as Senate Majority Leader, before being term-limited. She has represented Maine’s 1st Congressional District since 2008.