Future of Food: Engaging Agriculture and Education in the Protein Transition
Event description
At the 83rd Professional Agricultural Workers Conference (PAWC), GFI’s Jeremy Eltz, PhD, and Janie Butler, MBA, will host a 90-minute interactive session exploring how land-grant institutions, HBCUs, and rural communities can benefit from the protein transition.
Titled “Future of Food: Engaging Agriculture and Education in the Protein Transition,” this workshop will cover how alt proteins can drive economic resilience, create new career pathways, and integrate into agricultural education.
This session is part of GFI’s broader commitment to supporting agricultural communities as active leaders in shaping a better food future.
Event location
GFI speakers
Janie Butler
EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST
THE GOOD FOOD INSTITUTE
Janie Butler develops dynamic educational programs and workforce solutions to cultivate talent in the growing alternative protein sector. Janie Butler joined GFI after working with the Colorado BioScience Institute and Beyond Benign: An Institute for Green Chemistry Education. In these roles, she cultivated workforce development and educational initiatives by designing impactful programs, leading curriculum development, and fostering partnerships between industry and academia. Janie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry with a specialization in molecular biology and a minor in environmental and sustainable studies from Loyola University of Maryland, equipping her with the expertise to drive sustainable practices in education and workforce training.
Jeremy Eltz, Ph.D.
EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
THE GOOD FOOD INSTITUTE
Jeremy Eltz will work to develop and support the education and workforce pipeline for the alternative protein industry. Prior to joining GFI, Jeremy Eltz served as the Director of Rural Education at the Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning at the University of Indianapolis. Jeremy began his career as a research scientist and middle school teacher, before joining the Indiana Department of Education in 2012. During his time at the IDOE, Jeremy created and implemented the state’s first STEM plan—which resulted in the adoption of new STEM programs and pathways in K-12 education across the state. Jeremy has a bachelor’s in biology from Indiana University Bloomington, a master’s degree in teaching from Marian University, a PhD in educational leadership from Indiana State, and a school superintendent’s license. He currently resides in Carmel, Indiana, with his wife, Missy, and two daughters, Macy and Mallory.
Upcoming events
View all events
The Science of Alt Protein: Transforming waste to fungal mycoprotein
Learn how Dr. Wang is developing a foundational biorefinery for converting food waste to fungal mycoprotein for practical food applications.
Proposal Writing Workshop: Tips and tricks for securing alternative protein funding
Join our expert-led workshop designed to help U.S.-based researchers strengthen their ability to secure funding.
SynBioBeta 2026
Bruce Friedrich joins SynBioBeta to make the case for a new way of producing meat—one grounded in science, built for scale, and critical to the future of food.
The Science of Alt Protein: Nature and nurture—Cell lines and media
Discover opportunities for the convergent development of both cell lines and media for cultivated meat.
