Once a center for the production of steel, iron, and glass, Pittsburgh has reemerged as a leader in medicine, education, healthcare, and—relevant to this tour—green building spaces, robotics, artificial intelligence, and high-tech industries. Some of the technological solutions being developed by university researchers, businesses, and nonprofits in Pittsburgh are focused on food and agriculture system issues.

On this tour, we’ll look at two very different spaces within the food system where technology is having an impact on sustainable food systems change in Pittsburgh and beyond. First, we’ll visit a farm that uses cutting-edge robotic, monitoring, and sensing technology in production agriculture. We’ll have a deep discussion about how this disruptive technology might be deployed at different scales and with smaller levels of investment. Then, we’ll explore a solution that leverages technology, civic engagement, and public-private partnerships to connect retail food surplus to emergency and charitable food need—and is having a significant and measurable impact on hunger in Pittsburgh. We’ll share a ‘wasted food’ lunch and explore how this app-based technology has had effects on both individual and community levels for donors, recipients, volunteers, and organizations involved. Join us as we explore what the new buzzword ‘ag tech’ really means, and dive deeply into several ‘ag tech’ solutions developed or deployed in Pittsburgh.

This day-long site visit is offered to participants at the 2019 SAFSF Forum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Host organizations include:
• Rivendale Farms
• 412 Food Rescue
• New Sun Rising
• Millvale Food + Energy Hub
• Strange Roots Experimental Ales