The Code Red Series
From makers to mongers, from retailers to customers – we all play an integral role in the world of cheese. As stakeholders in food supply, we have a responsibility to sustainability, both to the consumer and the changing climate of Earth. But with sometimes competing domains what do we really have a say on the matter? What are we doing now? What more can we do?
Climate change affects us all.
The Code Red Series will feature conversations between industry experts in the dairy and agricultural industries through the lens of sustainability and climate change. Each subject matter expert will engage in conversation with our host and co-host and share insights based on their research and practical expertise. Not only will you get to hear from these specialists, but you’ll be able to bring your own specific questions.
Together we will better understand food supply and sustainability around this food we all love – cheese!
Course Details
For Distributors
Distributors may purchase multiple copies of packages to distribute to learners, and follow their progress. Bulk discounts are below.
| Quantity | Price per voucher |
|---|---|
| 1+ | $0.00 |
Instructors
Alan Rotz
Alan Rotz, Agricultural Engineer, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
Al Rotz is an Agricultural Engineer with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. His work has included the development, evaluation, and application of the Integrated Farm System Model (IFSM) used to evaluate and compare the performance, economics, and environmental impacts of farming systems. IFSM is distributed through the Internet for use in research and education. Recent work includes life cycle assessment and sustainability analysis of beef and dairy production systems and adaptation of farming systems to climate change.
Rotz grew up on a dairy farm in southern Pennsylvania. He holds degrees from Elizabethtown College and The Pennsylvania State University. He spent three years as an Assistant Professor at Michigan State University before joining the Agricultural Research Service. For 16 years, he led the East Lansing Cluster of the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center. For the past 24 years, he serves as a lead scientist at the Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit in University Park, Pennsylvania. He is a registered Professional Engineer and a Fellow of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers. He is also a member of the American Dairy Science Association, the American Forage and Grassland Council, and the Pennsylvania Forage and Grassland Council.
Bill Wavrin
Bill Wavrin, D.V.M, Ferndale Farmstead
Bill Wavrin, D.V.M, a veterinarian and dairy farmer, brings a long industry history to the Code Red Series. Bill and his family have a long history of farming and conceived the idea of Ferndale Farmstead dairy farm in 2009. In 2013, the process of building a creamery began and they are committed to responsible food practices throughout the cheesemaking process.
In this commitment, the Wavrin family takes on the responsibility that their cheese is not adulterated, the animals in their care are respected, and in their production practices, natural resources, the communities they serve, and the people that work with them are all better off.
Check out Ferndale Farmstead here!
Curt Gooch
Gooch found his passion for agriculture early in life and has been fortunate to work professionally for over 30 years serving the US dairy industry and the greater agricultural community. His unique combination of ag upbringing/on-farm employment experience, professional preparation and practice, and industry sustainability leadership has resulted in positive impacts at the farm, milkshed, state, regional, and national levels. Working in the US and abroad to contribute towards dairy environmental, economic, and social sustainability, he is razor focused on helping position dairy to be part of One Health - healthy for animals, humans, and the planet.
Gooch has extensive expertise in quantifying the environmental impact of animal agriculture; current focus on biogenic and deep sequestered fossil fuel emissions and offsets from milk production (cradle to farm gate) that include cattle, feed production, manure handling, and energy.
Leadership includes service on the Innovation Center for US Dairy Environmental Stewardship Committee, the National Milk Producers Environmental Task Force, and the PRO-DAIRY Dairy Environmental Systems program at Cornell University for 23 years. Curt highly values strategic partners and resulting outcomes. In 2021, Dr. Roger Cady and himself developed the strongest approach for US dairy to measure its cradle to farm gate GHGs for use in 2025 progress reporting toward the 2050 GHG neutrality goal; Karl Czymmek and Gooch led the US dairy education effort about reportable air emissions in '04-'05 in response to an opportunity for animal agriculture to participate in an EPA agreement where lawsuits would discontinue, and animal agriculture would study air emissions and report findings. Gooch was the PI for the northeast dairy studied under this agreement, which was successful because of partnerships with dairy farmers, EPA, and PIs across the country concurrently studying the same emissions from other dairy farms, swine barns, and poultry houses.
Gooch was awarded $millions in competitive grant funding from Federal, state, local, and private entities. Sponsored projects strategically target at closing knowledge gaps and transferring findings to stakeholders. He is well published and has presented at 100s of conference events and meetings/educational programs. Gooch has performed countless farm consultations and consulting projects including helping many farmers/business partners develop viable renewable natural gas projects. He has extensive project management experience, serving agriculture as a Project Engineer for 9 years.
Jennifer Van Os
Jennifer Van Os, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Animal Welfare, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Jennifer Van Os is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist in Animal Welfare on the faculty of the Department of Animal & Dairy Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Van Os received her PhD in the interdisciplinary Animal Behavior graduate program at the University of California-Davis and conducted postdoctoral research in the Animal Welfare Program at the University of British Columbia. The research in her lab at UW-Madison focuses on understanding, evaluating, and improving the welfare of dairy animals from biological- and social-science perspectives. The goal of Dr. Van Os’ extension program is to promote best practices in management and housing to help the dairy industry adapt as our scientific knowledge about animal welfare continues to grow.
Learn more about Jennifer Van Os here and check out the Animal Welfare Science at UW-Madison here!
Kurt Dammeier
A fourth generation Puget Sound native and nascent New Yorker, Kurt has always felt passionately about authentic, full-flavored foods, free of artificial additives. Through his company, Sugar Mountain, Kurt is the owner and chef of a number of creative food brands and restaurants, from the award-winning Beecher’s Handmade Cheese to The Butcher’s Table, a swanky steakhouse that features Mishima Reserve, his luxury Wagyu beef brand. With each operation, Kurt’s goal is to demonstrate how quality ingredients make for delicious meals, without added food colorings, flavor enhancers, or preservatives. Beyond the retail world, Kurt is effecting change in people’s eating habits through The Beecher’s Foundation (501c3), founded in 2004. Through education and community engagement, the Foundation inspires people to eat real food and vote with every food dollar.
Pablo Monsivais
Pablo Monsivais, PhD, MPH, University of Washington
Dr. Monsivais an Associate Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology. After doctoral and post-doctoral training in neuroscience and physiology at the University of Washington and University College London, Dr. Monsivais returned to the UW to retrain in nutrition and public health in 2004.
His research on the social and behavioral epidemiology of food consumption and obesity is aimed at identifying population-level drivers of social inequalities in diet and health.
Learn more about Dr. Monsivais here and check out his Google Scholar articles here!
Tim Hammerich
Tim Hammerich, Communications Consultant, Cogent Consulting
Tim Hammerich is a communications consultant and the creator of the Future of Agriculture weekly podcast which has received over 1.5 million downloads. He is also a speaker and writer about topics related to agricultural innovation, agtech, and sustainability.
Hammerich is the voice behind several other podcasts, including Soil Sense, Growing Pulse Crops, and The Almond Journey. He consults with clients in areas of industry relations, content strategy and agtech adoption.
Hammerich is a former National FFA President and graduate of the University of California, Davis with a degree in Crop Science and Management. He and his family reside in Eagle, Idaho.