February 20-22, 2020. BP Energy Center, Anchorage
by Brian Himelbloom, AFPC Governing Board Member, Kodiak
The three-day annual conference, subtitled “A New Decade: Innovations in Alaska Agriculture and Food Production”, was held in an eco-friendly two-story secured facility nestled in the woods on the southern end of the BP campus in midtown Anchorage. The talks and presentations were located in aptly named rooms: Aspen and Birch on the 1st floor, and Alder/Cottonwood, Spruce/Willow, and Fir on the 2nd floor. The conference fee was nominally-priced and appeared to be well-attended (estimated at 50-70 people during peak). A continental breakfast was included in the registration fee and snacks and refreshments were provided during session breaks. In the building’s foyer, tables were set up for displays and handouts were provided by various organizations. The heated sidewalks were a plus for attendees trekking to the conference from the free, security-patrolled parking lots and walking to the spacious cafeteria for lunch on the ground floor of the BP tower.
Thursday’s opening plenary session consisted of ten talks covering updates from the Western Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Program (SARE, a grant funding agency), Alaska Division of Agriculture, Alaska climate, and USDA statistics for Alaska agriculture, and status reports from the UAF Cooperative Extension Service and Matanuska Experiment Farm, Alaska Farm Bureau, Alaska Farmland Trust, and Alaska Food Policy Council. The afternoon consisted of three breakout sessions “Programs that Work for Alaska Agriculture/Projects and Programs” (seven talks), “Sustainable Agriculture in Rural and Off-Road Alaska” (five talks and one cancellation due to weather for out-of-town speaker; session available as a live statewide Zoominar), and “Food Business for Agriculture Entrepreneurs” (four talks). Friday’s agenda consisted of two breakout sessions, “Farm Business Planning and Considerations” (two talks) and “Alaska Farms and Innovations” (eight talks), a full-day workshop on “Rhodiola for Alaska” (eight presentations; for background on this flowering herb, click here), and a full-day training in “Preventive Controls for Human Food”. Saturday consisted of two livestock-themed workshops, a non-timber talk, and a full-day training in “Produce Safety” (free registration and lunch was provided since the cafeteria is closed on weekends). An all-day workshop on “Mental Health First Aid” was cancelled due to the low number of registrations.
This was my first time attending/participating in the keystone Alaska agriculture conference. The complete agenda can be viewed here. Congratulations to the UAF-CES for putting on a fine conference. Contact Casey Matney <camatney@alaska.edu> for any follow-up interest in planning for the 2021 conference, possibly combined with the Alaska Farm Bureau annual meeting.
