Anaerobic Digestion on the Farm Conference --- November 6-8, 2023 --- Ames, IA Presentations Available

April 03, 2023

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Optimizing environmental and economic outcomes for rural communities and beyond -- EPA Region 7, Iowa State University, and the University of Iowa will co-host a regionally focused conference on anaerobic digestion (AD) in agriculture on Monday-Wednesday, Nov. 6-8, 2023, at the Iowa State Center in Ames, Iowa.

What to Expect

The purpose of the conference is to engage stakeholders; facilitate information exchange on anaerobic digestion in agriculture; and focus on solutions for the various challenges facing those operating an AD facility or those interested in owning and operating their own facility.

Virtual Tours

As a part of the conference, you’ll be able to visit various AD facilities and operations via virtual tours.

Who Should Attend

AD stakeholders , farmers, policy makers, developers, financers, consultants, scientists, students (interested in sharing ideas, building partnerships, and developing well-rounded solutions), and other interested individuals in the Region 7 states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska.

Conference Schedule

Monday, Nov. 6

Evening kickoff and welcoming event

Virtual tour

Exhibit hall - poster session

Tuesday, Nov. 7

Morning session with keynote speaker

Virtual tour

Afternoon sessions covering technical, financial, and regulatory aspects of anerobic digestion

Exhibit hall - poster session

Wednesday, Nov. 8

Morning session with keynote speaker

Virtual tour

Morning sessions covering technical, financial, and regulatory aspects of AD, including facilitated discussion and audience Q&A

Exhibit hall - poster session

Keynote Speakers

Marcelo Mena-Carrasco

Mena is a professor of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso and the former environment minister for Chile under the Michelle Bachelet government (2014 to 2018). As minister, he spearheaded multiple, international environmental initiatives, including helping craft a landmark agreement to phase out coal power generation; South America’s first carbon taxes for power generation and new car sales; creating 45,000 square kilometers of national parks; and protecting 1.3 million square kilometers of ocean. Previously, he was practice manager at the World Bank, where he led the team that created the Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action.

Mena is a biochemical engineer and holds MS and Ph.D. degrees in environmental engineering from the University of Iowa, focusing his research on estimating the externalities of biofuels, power generation, transportation, and residential heating. He used his research to advocate for renewable energy and push for more stringent regulations to stop dirty-coal power generation in Chile. Mena has received awards from UNEP, National Geographic, Oceans Unite, NASA and EPA, as well as fellowships from MIT and the Fulbright Commission.

Rudi Roeslein

Rudi Roeslein grew up in south St. Louis, after immigrating to America from Austria with his parents in 1956. He attended St. Louis University majoring in Engineering, and in 1990, put his degree to use by launching Roeslein & Associates. Today, Roeslein & Associates is a global engineering, modular fabrication, and construction company that is home to over 600 employees with offices across the United States, United Kingdom, and China.

In 2010, Roeslein began to follow a different path – a path that was led by his true passion for wildlife and prairie restoration. In 2011, he founded Roeslein Alternative Energy.

More recently, Roeslein has looked to his mentor, Dr. Peter Raven, president emeritus of the Missouri Botanical Gardens, in regard to starting a new project. Over the course of the last several years, Roeslein has been working with the University of Missouri, University of Minnesota, Iowa State University, Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri Prairie Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to brainstorm solutions to promote better farming techniques and better uses of what is classified as “marginal land,” which is land that doesn’t live up to current agricultural production standards. This team of workers from various industries is called the Midwest Conservation Biomass Alliance, or MCBA, and has provided critical guidance in the plant selection process and prairie reconstruction design that Roeslein uses on his personal farmland. READ MORE