Oct. 30   Joshua Foss, Principal, Regencia Inc.  
Title: Evaluating Integrated Food System Planning Opportunities for NYC
Registration HERE: 

Abstract:

This presentation and interactive dialogue will focus on the ‘Food’ part of the Food-Energy-Water nexus. It will examine the function and value integrated food system planning approaches offer across building, neighborhood, city, and regional scales.  The session will reference the Gowanus district in Brooklyn as a showcase example and expand concept evaluation to the broader NYC foodshed. Analysis will make connections between diet and local food production potential, as well as corresponding production-distribution-retail linkages. Further examination will be placed on how technologies can be stacked to reduce food costs and capture systems-wide value, and what types of new social and community benefits can be created from the neighborhood ‘food hubs’.  Lastly, attention will be placed on ‘Net Positive’ land use opportunities that can result from alternative production methods in peri-urban and rural settings. The session intends to reframe how 21st century food systems can be fundamentally redesigned around existing market-based tools and technologies.

Bio:

Joshua Foss is an accomplished strategist, planner, designer, and thought leader shaping the future of global regenerative city, circular economy, and resiliency movements. His expertise is in advancing integrative, systems-based innovations as a way to address complex interconnected development challenges and unlock ‘Net Positive’ levels of performance.Foss has led numerous breakthrough initiatives across diverse applications throughout the world, including: First-of-their-kind regenerative assessments for multiple cities and regions; Been a contract advisor for Fortune 5 companies on community safety, regenerative design strategy, and corporate sustainability; Presented at United Nations events and Global Entrepreneurship Summits; Had his organization garner recognition as an ‘Emerging Innovator’ within the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s Circular Economy 100 network; Co-produced global conferences on Regenerative Economies; Developed and lead a groundbreaking online Masters course on sustainable product-service innovation; and been a principal planner on multiple district infrastructure designs that have been recognized as the most resilient neighborhood plans in the U.S. Foss carries a master’s degree in Strategic Leadership Towards Sustainability, is a certified urban farmer (permaculture), a credentialed CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) specialist, and frequently lectures at universities and conferences throughout the world.