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John Polanski
As MnTAP's food processing waste reduction specialist, John examines the concerns of the food processing industry, which include limiting water use, reducing by-product losses, and finding alternative ways to manage by-products. John joined MnTAP as a graduate assistant and discovered a separation between farmers and food processors. To reduce that separation, John wrote a bill in 1990 that redefined state law on feeding food by-products to livestock. Now it is easier for a food processor generating non-meat food waste to work with a farmer who is licensed to feed those types of by-product wastes.
In his current work, John helps companies create internal waste reduction and energy efficiency teams and assists them with isolating problem areas. When facilitating monthly on-site team meetings, he provides technical assistance on identifying and implementing pollution prevention and energy efficiency opportunities.
Education / Training
- Master of Education with emphasis in Adult Agricultural Education, University of Minnesota – College of Education and Human Development
- Bachelor of Science in Animal Science, University of Minnesota – College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Science
- Bachelor of Arts in History, University of Minnesota – College of Liberal Arts
- Conflict Management Training
- Business Consulting Training
- Team Building Training
Professional Activities
- Institute of Food Technologists
- American Association of Cereal Chemists
Speaking Topics
- Building a Strong Pollution Prevention Team
- Water Use and Wastewater Loading in the Food Processing Industry
- Legalizing the Feeding of Non-meat Food Wastes to Livestock
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