Center for Digital Agriculture
INFEWS and Circular Bioeconomy Systems Workshop
July 24–26, 2024 • iHotel and Illinois Conference Center • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Workshop Overview
In response to the complex challenges within the nexus of food, energy, water systems and circular bioeconomy, tremendous effort has been made by National Science Foundation via its INFEWS (Innovative Nexus for Food, Energy and Water Systems) program, and other federal agencies (such as USDA) and professional societies (such as ASABE) in the past decade. This workshop is envisioned as a comprehensive summary event to bring together researchers and scientists involved in INFEWS projects to share the findings and insights on energy, food, water, and the circular bioeconomy.
This interdisciplinary workshop will facilitate knowledge sharing, collaboration, and dialogue to identify key research gaps, priorities, and solutions for promoting circularity and sustainability. Through presentations, discussion and networking opportunities, participants will collectively address pressing challenges and advance research efforts aimed at enhancing the resilience and sustainability of agriculture and food systems.
Registration Form
Agenda
TIME (CST)
AGENDA
Wednesday, July 24 | Location: Illinois Ballroom B & C
3:00 p.m.
Check-In to iHotel and Workshop Registration
5:30 p.m.
Welcome Reception
Thursday, July 25 | Location: Chancellor Ballroom
7:45 a.m.
Registration & Light Refreshments
8:15 a.m.
Welcome and Introduction
- Call for order by Yuanhui Zhang and Ximing Cai (Workshop Co-chairs)
- Welcome address by UIUC leadership
- Setting up the Stage (Workshop Introduction and Agenda)
8:40 – 10:10 a.m.
Keynote Presentations + Q&A
Facilitator: Dr. Ximing Cai, Ben Chie Yen Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Transforming Food and Agriculture to Circular Bioeconomy Systems
Dr. James Jones, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Florida
Advancing Source Separation through Nutrient Efficiency for Sustainable Transitions: Turning waste flows into an ASSET
Dr. Nancy Love, Borchardt And Glysson Collegiate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
10:10 a.m.
Coffee Break
10:15 a.m. – Noon
INFEWS Lightning Talks: Sessions 1 & 2
Each talk will be 15 minutes including Q&A.
Facilitator: Dr. John Reid, Research Professor of Computer Science/Agricultural and Biological Engineering, and Executive Director of the Center for Digital Agriculture, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Session 1: Food – Production, Security, Safety, and Social Acceptance
Advancing Circular Food Systems: Emerging Technologies for Food Waste Reduction and Energy Efficiency
Dr. Amir Malvandi, Assistant Professor, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Shifting Trade from Feed to Food Reduces Agricultural Nitrogen Loss and GHG Emissions in the U.S. and China
Yanyu Wang, PhD Student, Center for Environmental Sciences, University of Maryland
An Economic Perspective of the Circular Bioeconomy in the Food and Agricultural Sector
Dr. Madhu Khanna, Alvin H. Baum Family Fund Chair Professor, Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Session 2: Energy – Bioenergy, Renewable Energy, Efficiency, and Security
Converting Algal Resources into Materials for the Bioeconomy
Dr. Peter Valdez, Process Analyst, Energy and Environment Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL)
Nano Catalysis in Carbon Capture and Bioenergy Conversion
Dr. Hong Yang, Richard C. Alkire Chair Professor, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Converting Food Waste into Sustainable Aviation Fuel via Hydrothermal Liquefaction and Catalytic Upgrading
Sabrina Summers, PhD student & NSF Fellow, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
12:00 p.m.
Lunch
1:00 p.m
Panel Discussion – INFEWS
Facilitator: Dr. Phillip Savage, Walter L. Robb Family Professor and Head, Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University
2:00 – 3:40 p.m.
INFEWS Lighting Talks: Sessions 3 & 4
Each talk will be 15 minutes including Q&A.
Facilitator: Dr. Ximing Cai, Ben Chie Yen Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Session 3: Water Resources
Wastewater Treatment and Reuse for Hydroponic Crop Production
Dr. Paul Davidson, Associate Professor, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Optimizing the Groundwater-Food-Energy Nexus under Water Pricing Reform: Evidence from the Haihe River Basin in Northern China
Dr. Xialin Wang, Postdoc researcher, Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Peking University, China
Integrated Agricultural Practices and Engineering Technologies Enhance Synergies of Food-Energy-Water Systems in Corn Belt Watersheds
Dr. Ximing Cai, Ben Chie Yen Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Session 4: Circular Bioeconomy Systems
Engineering Biocatalysts for Waste Valorization: Cases of Plastic Depolymerization and Phosphorus Recovery
Dr. Na Wei, Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Food Waste-Derived Bio-Asphalt: A Roadmap for Heavy Fraction Use from Bio-Crude Oil
Dr. Ramez Hajj, Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Method to Quantify a Circular Bioeconomy System
Dr. Yuanhui Zhang, Founder Professor, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
3:40 p.m.
Coffee Break
3:45 p.m
Panel Discussion – CBS
Facilitators: Dr. John Reid, Research Professor of Computer Science/Agricultural and Biological Engineering, and Executive Director of the Center for Digital Agriculture, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; and Dr. Victoria Finkenstadt, National Program Leader, Division of Agricultural Systems, USDA
4:45 p.m
Summary of the Day
5:00 p.m.
Adjourn
6:30 p.m.
Dinner @ iHotel
Friday, July 26 | Location: Chancellor Ballroom
7:45 a.m
Light Refreshments
8:15 – 9:45 a.m
Keynote Presentations
Each presentation will be 45 minutes including Q&A.
Facilitator: Dr. Yuanhui Zhang, Founder Professor, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Advances in Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Biomass
Dr. Phillip Savage, Walter L. Robb Family Professor and Head of Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University
Towards Biobased Sustainable Aviation Fuel
Dr. Joshua Heyne, Co-director, WSU-PNNL Bioproducts Institute (BIO-IN) Washington State University/PNNL
9:45 a.m
Breakout Introduction – Setting up the Stage
Dr. KC Ting, Professor and Head Emeritus, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Attendees will be pre-assigned to one of the four Breakout Groups.
- A facilitator/reporter and a recorder will be pre-appointed for the four Breakout Groups
- Each Breakout Group will be gathered in one separate space in the large conference room.
- Ideally, each Breakout Group will have a computer, projector, and projection screen. Alternatively, each Breakout Group will receive easel stands, poster paper, and markers.
- If the physical resources are limited, the Breakout Sessions can be conducted with all attendees in one big room (i.e., without dividing the attendees into separate Break Groups). In this case, the time allocations for the Breakout Sessions and Report-Back Activities can be adjusted to give more time for the Breakout Sessions and less time for the Report-Back activities.
- A PowerPoint tool is provided to assist the Breakout Group Facilitators/Reporters in facilitating the Breakout Sessions and reporting back the outcomes, as well as to assist Recorders in capturing the inputs from the Breakout Group members during the Breakout Sessions.
10:00 a.m.
Coffee Break
10:15 a.m
Breakout Session I
Four Breakout Groups (A, B, C, and D) will brainstorm the answers to the question:
“What might be the challenges/top challenges, and potential opportunities/high potential opportunities in improving circularity of bioeconomy systems using INFEWS concepts, approaches, and methodologies?”
10:55 a.m
Breakout Session II
Four Breakout Groups (A, B, C, and D) will brainstorm the answers to the question:
“What might be the high-impact short-term and long-term actions in realizing the high potential opportunities identified in Breakout Session 1?”
11:35 a.m
Report Back
10 minutes for each of the four Breakout Groups, including Q&A.
Facilitators: Dr. KC Ting, Professor and Head Emeritus, Agricultural & Biological Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
12:15 p.m.
Lunch
1:15 p.m
Site Visits
Starting from the I-Hotel, the bus will leave from the front door (west side of the I-Hotel). They may be grouped if there are more than 20 people.
- Energy Farm (Lead — Tim Mies, Manager, UIUC Energy Farm)
- HTL Pilot Reactor and Upgrading Research Lab (Lead – Yuanhui Zhang)
- Integrated Bioprocessing Research Lab (IBRL) (Lead – Brian Jacobson, Manager)
4:30 p.m.
Adjourn
Workshop Venue, Lodging Options & Travel Info
Click on each tab below for more information on the workshop venue, lodging options, and how to get around the Champaign-Urbana area.
iHotel and Illinois Conference Center
Our workshop will be take place at the iHotel & Illinois Conference Center located at 1900 S 1st St, Champaign, IL 61820.
Where should I park?
The iHotel & Illinois Conference Center offers free onsite parking so you don’t need to worry about paying the meter or parking tickets.
iHotel Room Block
For this workshop we have a dedicated room block with a special discounted rate of $179 USD/night at the iHotel (connected to the Illinois Conference Center). To claim this special rate, reservations must be made by June 24, 2024.
How claim this special rate and book a room
- 🖥️ Online: Book your room by using this dedicated iHotel reservation link then input the following information in the appropriate fields:
- Block Code: NSF2024
- Guest Password: @5vZP
- ☎️ By Phone: Call +12178195000 to talk with a representative and let them know you would like to book a room in block code NSF2024
If you would like alternative lodging. Below is a list of potential accommodations nearby:
- Illini Union | 🔗 illiniunionhotel.illinois.edu
- Hilton Garden Inn Champaign-Urbana | 🔗 hilton.com
- Hyatt Place Champaign/Urbana | 🔗 hyatt.com
- Home2 Suites by Hilton | 🔗 hilton.com
Champaign-Urbana is easy to get to and navigate. Conveniently situated off three major interstates, we’re nearly equidistant from Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis. Transportation options include:
- Fly into our accessible airport – Willard Airport
- Ride the Amtrak
- Take a bus via Greyhound or the Peoria Charter Coach Company
Our award-winning mass transit district will help get you around, as will our rentable bikes and e-bikes or walk-in our connected districts! We also have taxi cab services and ride-sharing services available.