Contact Information: Ben Washburn, washburn.ben@epa.gov, 816-518-4154

LENEXA, KAN. (SEPT. 11, 2023) – Today, U.S. EPA Region 7, Iowa State University, and the University of Iowa announced that registration is now open for the upcoming conference titled Anaerobic Digestion on the Farm – Optimizing Environmental and Economic Outcomes for Rural Communities and Beyond.

EPA and the universities will host the conference Nov. 6-8, 2023, at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. A full conference agenda and registration information are available on EPA’s conference webpage.

The conference will feature presentations, exhibits, and discussion panel sessions covering a variety of anaerobic digestion topics. The conference will also include virtual tours of anaerobic digestion facilities and a poster session. EPA, Iowa State University, and the University of Iowa are accepting submissions for the poster session until Sept. 22, 2023. Please see the conference webpage for details.

Several keynote speakers, including Marcelo Mena-Carrasco, Rudi Roeslein, and Jamie Burr, will headline the conference. Additional keynote speakers may be announced in the future.

Marcelo Mena-Carrasco is CEO of the Global Methane Hub, an international alliance for developing and implementing global methane reduction solutions. In 2021, he launched the Global Methane Pledge with over 110 countries, including the U.S., signing on to reduce methane emissions by more than 30% by 2030. Previously, Mena-Carrasco served as climate change advisor and practice manager for the World Bank, as minister and vice minister for the environment in Chile, and as co-chair for the Climate and Clean Air Coalition.

Rudi Roeslein is founder and CEO of Roeslein & Associates (1990) and sister company Roeslein Alternative Energy (2012). Roeslein and RAE develop and operate renewable energy production facilities that convert agricultural and industrial wastes, along with renewable biomass feedstocks, into renewable natural gas and sustainable co-products.

Jamie Burr is the chief sustainability officer for the National Pork Board. He has served on several state and national policy workgroups and industry committees, including EPA’s Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee. Burr is currently a commissioner with the Natural Resources Division of the Arkansas Department of Agriculture.

Anaerobic digestion is the natural process in which microorganisms break down organic materials in a sealed reactor without oxygen. Organic inputs may include a variety of materials, such as animal manure, dedicated grassy biomass, food waste, and wastewater biosolids. Outputs include methane-rich biogas and digestate, which may be used to make a variety of products, such as soil amendments, fertilizer, animal bedding, electricity, heat, and vehicle fuel.

Additional information regarding the upcoming conference is available on EPA’s webpage.

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