The American Farmland Trust held its national conference on Farmland, Food and Livable Communities in Lexington, KY in October 2014. The conference highlighted the current challenges faced by American agriculture and encouraged greater collaboration to support agricultural viability and vibrant community food systems.

Growing Food Connections sponsored the food systems planning track at the conference which included a food systems policy training as well as 10 other sessions of interest. The conference was also attended by the representatives of 15 communities under consideration to partner with GFC as a Community of Opportunity (COOs). COO finalists shared, learned, and networked with conference participants. An announcement of the selected 8 Communities of Opportunity will be forthcoming