Potato Sustainability Alliance will host the first-ever PSA Summer Symposium from July 11 – July 14, 2022, in Boise, ID.
The vision behind our Summer Symposium is to bring together value chain leaders. We will be giving everyone a chance to learn, share, unify and connect. In addition, the Symposium will be an incredible, in-person opportunity to collaborate and build momentum for potato sustainability.
PSA members and non-members are both encouraged to attend. The Summer Symposium will be held in conjunction with a regularly scheduled PSA board meeting.
We’ve done enough work in virtual meetings over the past couple of years; let’s get together!
PSA SUMMER SYMPOSIUM AGENDA (subject to change)
Monday, July 11:
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm: Symposium Check-In / Welcome Reception
Location: Bardenay Restaurant & Distillery 610 W Grove St, Boise, ID 83702
The Welcome Reception is where attendees will receive registration packets, name badges, and connect with fellow industry professionals. And have some fun too!
*PSA will be paying for all the food and will also be providing one drink ticket per attendee. Any additional drinks will be at the attendee’s own expense.
Tuesday, July 12:
8:00 am – 8:10 am: Welcome to Boise by PSA Board Chair Jolyn Rasmussen: What does success look like this week?
8:10 am – 9:00 am: Welcome to the Symposium by Executive Director, John Mesko
9:00 am – 10:00 am: Panel Discussion: Sustainability Data Needs
This panel is intended to help us understand the current and future needs of the potato industry to supply various types of sustainability data, and the implications for the various sectors of PSA membership.
Moderator: John Mesko
Panelists: Shane Sampels, Sysco; Gerhard Bester, Frito-Lay, Jess Newman, McCain Foods; Brandy Wilson, J.R. Simplot
10:00 am – 10:20 am: Networking Break
10:20 am – 11:00 am: Discussion of Current PSA Data
In this session, we will review current PSA data and a review of the progress we’ve made on sustainability over the past few years.
Presented by: Natalie Nesburg & John Mesko
11:00 am – Noon pm: Cropwise Sustainability Platform
In an effort to be simplistic in our offerings, are there tools that make participation in PSA programs less burdensome and more efficient? In this session, we’ll take a look at one tool, the Cropwise Sustainability Tool from Syngenta.
Presented by: Liz Hunt, Syngenta
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Lunch *included with registration
1:00 pm – 2:15 pm: Fitting the PSA Program to the Needs of Members: Audits and Certifications, Multiple Tiers of Participation, Improved Data Flow
An introduction to an expanded view of PSA programs designed to allow PSA to serve the breadth of our membership while giving options for the intensity and methods of data collection.
Presented by: Tracy Shinner-Carnelley, Peak of the Market
2:15 pm – 2:30 pm: Networking Break
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm: Greenhouse Gas/Program Design Meeting – Discussion of Cool Farm Tool
In order to be credible to buyers, PSA’s current method of calculating greenhouse gas emissions needs to be updated. In this session, we will review the work PSA’s Greenhouse Gas Committee has done to explore improvements to our method, listen to stakeholder feedback and answer questions.
Presented by: Tommy Jackson.
4:00 pm – 5:00 pm: Sector Breakouts
6:00 pm: Group Activity
Location: Base Camp + Axe 815 Ann Morrison Park Dr, Boise, ID 83706
*PSA will be covering the fees for the activity. PSA will also provide one drink ticket to each guest and will have some appetizers for the group to share.
Wednesday, July 13:
8:00 am – 8:15 am: Welcome by Executive Director John Mesko and PSA Board Chair Jolyn Rasmussen
8:15 am – 9:00 am: Panel Discussion: Legislative and Regulatory Impacts on Sustainability Metrics
The legislative and regulatory plans and needs of government agencies are additional drivers of PSA’s work. In this session, we will learn what those drivers are and the implications for PSA, its members, and stakeholders.
Moderator: Mike Wenkel: NPC
Panelists: Kenneth J. Markowitz, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP; Mary Robinson, President Canadian Federation of Agriculture
9:00 am – 9:30 am: McCain Foods and Regenerative Agriculture
McCain Foods has launched its Regenerative Agriculture Framework recently and is a leader in implementing regenerative agriculture. In this session, we will learn how the McCain Regenerative Agriculture Framework will work alongside and be supportive of PSA programming.
Presented by: Spencer Karabelas-Pittman, McCain Foods
9:30 am – 9:45 am: Networking Break
9:45 am – 10:20 am: Feedback and Listening Session: Review and Discuss (Parking Lot)
The Symposium is designed to be a working session, and we want to provide an opportunity for broad-based feedback, answering questions, and setting the stage for future work needed.
10:20 am – 11:20 am: Water Management: Kickoff for the next phase of program development
In this session, we will preview and frame up the necessary effort for developing a water management component to our program, identify interested members to serve on a water management working group, and establish a draft timeline for delivering results.
11:20 am – 12:00 pm: PSA Survey Discussions – 2022 Survey and Timeline
Presented by: Natalie Nesburg
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm: Lunch & Tractor Tour *included with registration
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm: Committee meetings breakout session
By-Law, Membership, Data Policy Nominations
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm: PSA Communications Update
Transparency is a program value for PSA, and in this session, we want to give an overview of ways that members and stakeholders can learn about PSA and get involved. We will also have a chance to hear from attendees about what kinds of communication tools are needed to help get the message out about PSA’s work.
Presented by: Jenna Cargile, McCracken
3:00 pm – 3:30 pm: Working Groups – Flex Time
This time is available for additional sector meetings and/or committee meetings
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm: Wrap-up Discussion, Questions?
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm: Happy Hour – The Lucky Fin
6:00 pm: Group Dinner
Location: The Lucky Fin 801 W Main St, Boise, ID 83702
*Dinner is included with registration.
Thursday, July 14:
8:00 am – 8:15 am: Welcome by Executive Director John Mesko & Overview of PSA Symposium
8:30 am – 11:30 am: Board Meeting will follow The Board Meeting Agenda
11:30 am – 12:00 pm: Wrap-up Discussion, Questions? Adjourn
*Lunch will not be provided
Thank You to our 2022 Symposium Sponsors:
Want to Sponsor the Summer Symposium?
Sponsorship opportunities are available for the Summer Symposium. If you are interested, please get in touch with John Mesko.
Sponsorship levels are listed below:
Platinum Sponsorship – $10,000.00
- Overall presenting sponsor of the PSA Summer Symposium
- Naming Rights: PSA Summer Symposium presented by…
- Logo Inclusion on all materials leading up to the event
- Logo to appear prominently in event program
- Logo to appear on PSA Website
- Registration for four attendees to Symposium
- A table in the lobby for branding during a designated time
- Branded collateral included in recipients’ welcome bag (sponsor to provide item)
- Logo on event lanyards
Gold Sponsorship – $5,000.00
- Recognition during event
- Logo to appear prominently in event program
- Logo to appear on PSA Website
- Logo to appear on all event signage
- Registration for two attendees to Symposium
- A table in the lobby/tradeshow element during a designated time
- Branded collateral included in recipients’ welcome bag (sponsor to provide item)
Silver Sponsorship – $2,000.00
- Recognition during event
- Logo to appear in event program
- Logo to appear on PSA Website
- Logo to appear on all event signage
Bronze Sponsorship – $1,000.00
- Recognition during event
- Logo to appear in Event Program
Partner Sponsorship – $500.00
- Recognition during event
Event Details.
If you have any questions about the Symposium, you can contact us via email: events@potatosustainability.org.