In the final episode of Tech to Table – Growing Cleveland’s Future, host Anthony Gillespie sits down with three industry leaders to explore how Cleveland can scale up local food production, accelerate technology adoption, and build a more resilient and equitable food system for all.

Guests include Kevin Mackey, founder and director of the Urban Farming Initiative, transforming vacant spaces into thriving community food hubs; India Johnson, founder of UAVistas LLC, using drones and data science to advance conservation and STEM education; and Matt Keri, Senior Development Finance Analyst for Cuyahoga County, working at the intersection of economic development, innovation, and community impact.

Together, they share insights on the future of food-tech in Cleveland — from circular food networks and controlled-environment agriculture to aerial data collection and catalytic investments that strengthen neighborhoods.

Episode 4: Tech on the Ground – Community Voices

In this episode of Tech to Table – Growing Cleveland’s Future, we take the conversation from the lab to the neighborhood. Host Anthony Gillespie sits down with two community leaders who are putting agricultural technology to work every day in Cleveland’s urban farms.

Hear from Trey Williams, founder of Hood Honey, who’s building community resilience through beekeeping, pollinator education, and grassroots sustainability efforts in Mount Pleasant. Then, meet Sara Continenza, founder and executive director of Food Strong, whose nonprofit is transforming vacant lots into thriving gardens, operating a mobile farm stand, and advancing food equity across Northeast Ohio.

Together, Trey and Sara share how innovation and community leadership intersect — showing that technology in the hands of local changemakers can strengthen food systems, empower neighborhoods, and shape a healthier, more sustainable future for Cleveland.

In this episode of Tech to Table – Growing Cleveland’s Future, we turn our focus to technology in action. Host Anthony Gillespie of Parallax Advanced Research and the Ohio Aerospace Institute introduces listeners to the cutting-edge tools and pilot projects transforming how Cleveland’s urban farmers grow food — making operations more efficient, sustainable, and equitable.

Our featured guest is Brad Chedister, Founder, Director, and Chairman of LANDWERX Innovation Platform, a national agricultural innovation hub and partner in the Precision Urban Agriculture initiative. LANDWERX is pioneering new ways to accelerate solutions for agriculture, land, and food security by connecting local farmers with national networks, advanced technologies, and cross-sector expertise.

With a career rooted in high-level innovation leadership — from Department of Defense R&D to ecosystem building for Special Operations — Brad shares insights on how LANDWERX is bridging the gap between national security innovation and local food system resilience. Together, Anthony and Brad discuss how collaborative problem-solving and technology demonstrations are shaping the future of urban farming in Cleveland and beyond.

Listeners will gain a front-row seat to the tech demonstrations fueling the Precision Urban Agriculture initiative, and see how these projects are laying the groundwork for a stronger, more resilient, and more connected food system.