Five-part audio series explores Cleveland’s food future through the lens of precision agriculture and community partnerships
CLEVELAND (Sept. 17, 2025) – Parallax Advanced Research and the Ohio Aerospace Institute, in collaboration with Cleveland State University, have launched “Tech to Table – Growing Cleveland’s Future”, a new five-part podcast series exploring how technology is shaping the future of urban agriculture in Greater Cleveland.
Produced at Cleveland State University, Tech to Table brings together local innovators, technologists, and community leaders to spotlight the Precision Urban Agriculture initiative, whose goal is to improve food access and urban sustainability by addressing the pressing issue of food deserts in low-income communities. The series is made possible through financial assistance awarded via 6ONANB24D146 from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Each episode features roundtable discussions, guest interviews and narrative storytelling to highlight the role of emerging technologies in food systems. The conversations explore the confluence of standard farming methods with modern innovation across Cleveland’s urban farming landscape.
“This podcast is about exploring the combination of grassroots knowledge and the possibilities with advanced technology,” said Anthony Gillespie, director of strategic and technology-based partnerships and technology transfer office at Parallax Advanced Research. “By amplifying community-led innovation, Tech to Table offers a new look at equitable access to food and technology.
Participating organizations in the initiative include:
- Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI): Lead grant recipient.
- Parallax Advanced Research: Strategic oversight and program design.
- Cleveland State University (CSU): Production partner and host institution.
- Landwerx: Technology partner for smart farming demonstrations.
- Rid-All Green Partnership: Community farm and education partner.
- Food Strong: Public health and food justice advocate.
- Urban Farming Institute (UFI): Regional expert in urban food sovereignty.
The podcast is designed for urban growers, technologists, sustainability advocates, as well as students and faculty working in urban studies, agriculture and engineering.
Episode 1 – “Planting the Future: Inside the Precision Urban Agriculture Effort” – is available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and YouTube.
Learn more about the Precision Urban Agriculture Initiative here: https://oai.org/precision-urban-agriculture
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About Parallax Advanced Research & The Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI)
Parallax is an advanced research institute that tackles global challenges through strategic partnerships with government, industry, and academia. It accelerates innovation, addresses critical global issues, and develops groundbreaking ideas with its partners. With offices in Ohio and Virginia, Parallax aims to deliver new solutions and speed them to market. In 2023, Parallax and OAI formed a collaborative affiliation to drive innovation and technological advancements in Ohio and for the nation. OAI plays a pivotal role in advancing the aerospace industry in Ohio and the nation by fostering collaborations between universities, aerospace industries, and government organizations, and managing aerospace research, education, and workforce development projects.