Bioneers Conference: Lunch: A "Stroll into the Community

Bioneers Conference: Lunch: A Stroll into the Community

For attendees of the Bioneers Conference in Berkeley, the culinary experience is designed to be as "local" as the activism. Generally, breakfast and lunch are not included in the standard conference ticket, but the event’s location makes finding food part of the experience.

​Here is how meals typically work during the conference:

​Lunch: A "Stroll into the Community"

​The conference schedule is intentionally designed with a long lunch break (usually from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM) to encourage attendees to explore the local economy.

  • ​The Routine: After the morning keynote sessions at Zellerbach Hall, thousands of participants "stroll" into downtown Berkeley.
  • ​The Options: Downtown Berkeley is a "Garden of Eatin'" with dozens of restaurants and food vendors within a 5-10 minute walk. This allows attendees to support local, sustainable, and plant-based eateries in the area.
  • ​Networking: Some facilitated "Lunchtime Networking" sessions occur, but these are typically "bring your own lunch" affairs.

​Breakfast: Host Hotels and Coffee

​While the conference itself doesn't serve a full breakfast, attendees often find morning meals through their lodging:

  • ​Host Hotels: Popular host hotels like the Residence Inn Berkeley and Holiday Inn Express offer complimentary hot breakfasts to guests who book through the Bioneers room block.
  • ​On-Site: In past years, light refreshments like coffee, tea, and small snacks have been available during registration (starting around 7:30 AM), but attendees are generally encouraged to eat a substantial meal before arriving.

​Exceptions and Extras

  • ​Field Tours: If you sign up for "add-on" events, such as the Urban Foodscape Tour, a delicious farm-to-table lunch is typically included in that specific ticket price.
  • ​Bioneers Afterglow: The conference usually hosts an evening "Afterglow" happy hour, which often features light snacks, drinks, and music, providing a social space to unwind after the afternoon panels.

​Feeding the Movement: A Taste of Berkeley

Bioneers doesn't just talk about sustainable food systems—it invites you to participate in one. Rather than standard conference catering, the schedule encourages a "lunch stroll" into downtown Berkeley. This allows the 2,000+ attendees to directly support the local food economy, exploring the city's legendary plant-based and social-enterprise eateries during the afternoon break. It’s a literal way to "digest" the morning’s big ideas while fueling up for the afternoon workshops.


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