California Groundbreakers

AgTech is a big deal in Sacramento's "Farm to Fork" economy. UC Davis is all all over it, a lot of companies have moved here to benefit from the school's world-class research, and the local industry just keeps seeing green -- investors forked over $4.6 billion to AgTech startups worldwide last year (compare that to only $500 million in 2012) as they look to tackle production and sustainability issues facing the farming sector. All that action will affect the regional economy, the crops and livestock raised here, and ultimately the food on your plate.

At Davis's Sudwerk Brewery, AgTech innovators explained how innovations coming out of Yolo County are a game-changer -- for global food production as well as for our economy -- and why you, whether you shop at the farmer's market or not, should care.

PANELISTS

* Sarah Hovinga, senior scientist at Bayer CropScience, the largest AgTech firm in Yolo County

* Joe Kopenick, Associate Director of New Venture Resources for UC Davis's Venture Catalyst, which helps turn university research and technology into for-profit ventures.

* Kristy Levings, Program Director for AgStart, an AgTech incubator in Woodland, and a third-generation farmer in Yolo County.

* Jeremy Warren, CEO and co-founder of Astrona Biotechnologies, a startup that's creating a handheld device to detect pathogens in the food-supply chain, from farm to kitchen.

PODCAST TIMELINE

0 to 5:45 min - Intro of California Groundbreakers

5:45 min - Intro of the panelists

10:30 min - Why Bayer, Monsanto and other major international companies are coming to Yolo County

14 min - What are AgTech startups focusing on?

16:30 min - How a UC Davis graduate turned lab research into a VC-funded biotech company

21 min - How UC Davis's Office of Research is turning students and alumni into entrepreneurs

27 min - On a scale of 1 to 10, where does Yolo County stand in AgTech prominence and potential?

32:30 - Are local farmers on board with AgTech and being the beta testers?

37 min - What can UC Davis do more of, or better, to boost AgTech?

43:30 min - And how about about local government in Yolo County?

46:30 - Is our "Eat Local" mentality hurting or helping the local AgTech's efforts to grow?

50:45 - How involved do UC Davis faculty get in AgTech startups?

58 min - Are insects the future of food?

1 hr, 1 min - What can Yolo County do from a public-policy perspective to keep local AgTech startups here?

1 hr, 7 min - How is UC Davis making money off its Venture Catalyst efforts?

1 hr, 12:20 min - How is the AgTech industry tackling the citrus-greening disease?

1 hr, 17 min - Examples of cool AgTech companies and products coming out of UC Davis and Yolo County that are making an impact

1 hr, 33 min - The "blank check" question: Panelists' wish lists if they got Federal funding and/or contracts to further AgTech

1 hr, 41:30 min - Efforts to build more maker spaces and lab space in Yolo County to boost research and development

1 hr, 47:30 min - The Bay Area effect: With changes in San Francisco currently impacting Sacramento's economy and real-estate prices, how will those changes impact AgTech and Yolo County?

Driving to the Roseville Galleria is not much fun. Neither is commuting on Highways 80 and 65 through Rocklin and Lincoln. But with population growth and more homebuilding on the way in Placer County, traffic isn't going to get any better.

Placer is one of 16 counties in California with a ballot measure to increase the retail sales tax for transportation improvements (Sacramento County has something similar with Measure B). If approved by two-thirds of county voters, it would be in place for 30 years and raise about $1.6 billion to fund highway projects ($380 million specifically for the Highways 80-65 chokepoint), public transit expansion, local street improvements, and other projects in Placer’s suburban and rural areas.

Measure M is a contentious one, and it certainly is making for strange bedfellows (when was the last time the Tea Party and the Sierra Club took the same side on a political issue?). Opponents say it will hurt the local economy, residents already pay high taxes to build and repair roads, and not enough is earmarked for public transit. Advocates say Measure M will relieve congestion and repair roads with strict accountability, and if not this, then what?

Whatever the outcome of Measure M, anyone driving through Placer County will feel the effect.

For our second "Policy and a Pint" discussion at The Monk's Cellar in Downtown Roseville, proponents and opponents of Measure M squared off over this ballot initiative to explain why it will have a major impact -- for better or for worse -- in the Sacramento region.

As you'll hear, it was a contentious debate -- but all the panelists shook hands and saluted each other at the end.

PANELISTS

* Jeff Flint, Campaign Manager for Yes on Measure M

* Michael Garebdian, Vice Chair of the Sierra Club’s Placer Group

* Tom Hudson, Executive director of the California Taxpayer Protection Committee, and President of the Placer County Taxpayers Association.

* Kirk Uhler, Placer County Supervisor District 4 (Granite Bay and much of Roseville)

Sure, there's plenty of movers and shakers in California's political scene. But who are the Groundbreakers aiming to break the mold, move the needle, and establish a better connection between elections, the campaigning process and social change?

We're starting a series of events called "Policy and a Pint" -- moderated panels and Q&As revolving around policy and politics on a local, regional and statewide level. In short: what's coming out of the Capitol, and how it's going to affect you as a voter, a taxpayer and a California resident. We're going to hold these events at breweries and other venues where a good pint of beer can be served (and eventually, good glasses of wine and good cocktails, both shaken and stirred).

To kick off our first Policy and a Pint event, we're having a talk with some California Groundbreakers in the political field. They're spearheading programs, both in California and nationwide, aimed at changing the way elections work, and how politicians structure their campaigns, how voters get approached and marketed to, and ultimately, how decisions will be made at the voting booth.

PANELISTS

* Caitlin Maple, research analyst for California Forward, who' s leading that organization's new political reform project, the 50 State Solution (http://cafwd.org/50state/entry/california-forward-launches-50-state-solution-political-reform-project)

* Paul Mitchell, owner of Redistricting Partners, which helps local governments navigate the quagmire of redistricting, and also vice-president of Political Data, Inc., a major provider of voter information to political campaigns, consultants and pollsters (www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-ed/article2601216.html)

* James Schwab, chief of legislative affairs for California's Secretary of State Alex Padilla, who talks about the brand-new program his office just created to partner with colleges to get students more involved in the political process and turn out at the polls.

PODCAST TIMEFRAME

* 0 to 6 minutes - About California Groundbreakers

* 6: 15 min - Introduction of the panelists

* 11:30 min - What is the 50 State Solution?

* 15 min - The CA's Secretary of State new efforts to get younger voters revved up, and to streamline voter registration

* 22:30 min - Paul's no-filter thoughts on this year's election that he put down on paper as columns for Capitol Weekly

* 30:30 min - Is polling still relevant?

* 35 min - How social media fits into the campaigning and election processes

* 46 min - How is that open-primary system working out for us so far?

* 59:30 min - The Red State/Blue State mix in California now

* 1 hr, 5:30 min - Is vote-splitting in an issue in this election?

* 1 hr, 10:30 min - How to reduce misinformation to voters

* 1 hr, 16:45 min - Predictions for how Gavin Newsom, Tom Steyer et al will do in 2018

* 1 hr, 23 min - How will "voter fatigue" affect people's decisions on the 17 ballot propositions? (and Google "Damien Carroll haikus ballot measures")

* 1 hr, 32 min - Will Republicans ever have a chance to win again in California?

We've got Old Sacramento and now the Barn, but what else do we have along the Sacramento River? Why can't we have the hike/bike trails, the boat launches, the water taxis, and work/live/play options along the waterfront? Both West Sacramento and the City of Sacramento say they're making waterfront revitalization a priority, but what's do-able and what's not?

For our second event at The Barn in West Sacramento on September 22, we asked questions to people who know the Sacramento River well about what's in the works for the short term -- and what needs a lot of work to happen in the long term -- on both sides of the riverfront.

PANELISTS

* Jim Houpt - head of Friends of the Sacramento River Parkway, which aims to have a complete multi-use trail run along the Sacramento River, and use it to create the Great California Delta Trail, running down to San Francisco Bay

* Harry Laswell -- CEO of the Powerhouse Science Center, Sacramento's version of the Exploratorium, which wants to move into an old PG&E plant on the river.

* Brooksie Hughes --the new Old Sacramento District Director, who has big hopes and big plans for making Old Sacramento a bigger draw for tourists and locals alike.

* Stephen Jaycox -- chief design and marketing officer for Fulcrum Property, designer and developer of the Barn.

* Chris Ledesma -- City Council Member of West Sacramento, who was instrumental in approval of the Bridge District plan, the new urban zone near Raley Field, and is now working to open more riverfront parks and recreation areas

PODCAST TIMEFRAME

* O to 9:30 min - Intro to California Groundbreakers

* 9:30 min - Panelists introduce themselves and share their favorite pastime on (or alongside) the Sacramento River

* 16 min - What's happening with the City of Sacramento's Master Plan for the riverfront

* 21:30 min - What West Sacramento is planning on its side of the river

* 24:45 min - Fulcrum Property is a major developer in Sacramento -- what are its future plans for development on both sides of the river?

* 29 min - Future hopes, dreams and plans for Old Sacramento

* 34 min - What's holding the new Powerhouse Science Center back from opening up on the river, and what it will look like

* 41 min - How Friends of the Sacramento River Parkway is working with public and private entities to get its goal of a walk/bike trail completed

* 45:45 min - What are West Sacramento's plans for a hike/bike trail on its side of the river?

* 52 min - Plans to boost recreation ON the river -- are more marinas, boat launches and ramps, and water taxis in the works?

* 55 min - Making Interstate 5 less of a barrier between people and riverfront access

* 59 min - State and federal government agencies: Barriers against, or friendly helpers for, getting riverfront projects done?

* 1 hr, 3 min - If it's hard to get funding, how are government officials thinking "outside of the box" to get things done?

* 1 hr, 6:30 min -- And how are they turning public apathy into citizen buy-in and support for riverfront revitalization?

* 1 hr, 10 min - Changing people's minds about how dangerous it is to bike along the river

* 1 hr, 15:30 min - How public/private partnerships will affect riverfront revitalization

* 1 hr, 23 min - How West Sacramento is overcoming financial and regulation barriers to get things done

* 1 hr, 27:45 min - Why isn't there more commerce, entertainment and events on the river?

* 1 hr, 31:30 min - Making Old Sacramento "historically hip"

* 1 hr, 37 min - How about using barges to put events on the river?

* 1 hr, 41 min - Big announcement: A new type of lighting of the Tower Bridge

* 1 hr, 43 min - What's the story behind the developer who spent millions on building a large dock south of the City, and why is it still not open? Why can't the City get that done?

1 hr: 45 min - What's an ideal model of development that we can use to revitalize our waterfront area?

California is having a Beer Boom. In the Sacramento area, at least one new craft brewery is popping up every month. But how long will that last? Are we at a tipping point of quality beer, or is there room for more? What are the top names in NorCal brewing planning to do next? And for beer lovers, what’s on the horizon?

For this discussion on all things beer, local brewers and beer pros tell you where California’s craft beer scene is at, where it’s headed next, what their own plans are, and how it’s going to affect the beers and breweries you love.

PANELISTS

* Ken Anthony – owner of Device Brewing, who went from engineer and home brewer to running one of Sacramento’s most respected breweries in just three years -- but still gets insomnia attacks at 2 a.m.

* Charlie Bamforth -- Professor of Malting & Brewing Sciences at UC Davis, a.k.a. “The Pope of Foam” and “Mr. Beer”

* Tom McCormick -- executive director of the California Craft Brewers Association, who keeps an eye on how the drought, proposed legislation, and beer-specific mergers and acquisitions will affect the brewing industry statewide

* J-E Paino – owner of Ruhstaller Beer, who just had to shut down the tasting room at his Dixon hop farm after a battle with Solano County over permitting and building codes, but says he has “big plans” for the future

* Teresa Psuty – brewmaster at the brand-new Crooked Lane Brewery in Auburn -- and yes, one of the few female brewmasters in California

PODCAST TIMEFRAME

* 0 to 8 minutes - Intro to California Groundbreakers

* 8 min - Panelists introduce themselves and share their favorite beer ever (for that day)

* 18 min - Is there a craft-brewing bubble in California?

* 27 min - Lessons learned from the recent California Craft Beer Summit

* 30 min - Barriers to entry for the aspiring brewer who wants to set up shop

* 38 min - Who are the future beermakers of America coming out of UC Davis's Brewing & Malting Sciences program?

* 41 min - Do new breweries need to go all out in order to get noticed in a crowded market?

* 45 min - Future growth for Device Brewing, and how the "Solano County Effect" hit Ruhstaller after it had to shut down the taproom at its DIxon hops farm

* 55 min - How legislation coming out of the Capitol affects the state's breweries

* 1 hr, 3 min - The rise of "family-friendly" breweries

* 1 hr, 7 min - Mistakes made (blue beer), lessons learned ($30,000 of beer poured down the drain)

* 1 hr, 13 min - Marketing strategies to get the customer

* 1 hr, 16 min - What will craft beers of the future taste like?

* 1 hr, 23 min - How breweries approach the "sustainability" factor

* 1 hr, 28 min - Favorite mentors, and the best lessons they taught

* 1 hr, 33 min - Can California be a top grower of hops again?

* 1 hr, 42 min - Is the Beer Boom changing UCDavis's Brewing & Malting Sciences curriculum?

* 1 hr, 45 min - What would happen if you got a call from one of the Big Brewers asking to partner with you, or to buy you out?