University of Kentucky
IN-2: Innovation 2

The University of Kentucky Food Connection serves farmers, food producers, students, and consumers by developing solutions and creative strategies for a vibrant, healthy, sustainable food economy in Kentucky. The Food Connection supports our land-grant mission through three key areas of work: interdisciplinary and innovative instruction, high-impact service and outreach, and cutting edge research on foods and food systems. Our work aims to enhance student experience through enhancing the on-campus dining experience, and through enriched learning environments that set students well along their professional pathways within food systems and beyond. The overarching goal of our work is to enhance the production, distribution and consumption of healthful Kentucky grown and produced food by members of our on- and off-campus communities, thereby enriching our Kentucky economy, community, and environment. We engage community partners (farmers, political leaders, service providers), cooperative extension, and faculty in shaping and implementing our goals and programs and work to facilitate collaboration and development across all sectors of our food system. The Food Connection is an unprecedented university-business-community partnership between the University of Kentucky and UK Dining (Aramark). We are housed in the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. The Food Connection was created to leverage the innovation and research of UK and the market position of Aramark with support from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Kentucky farmers, community partners and consumers to grow a vibrant food economy in Kentucky.

The Food Connection has already started publishing papers relative to food systems in the Commonwealth and has launched a Student Opportunity Grant program. Publications: http://foodconnection.ca.uky.edu/issues-research Grant Program: http://foodconnection.ca.uky.edu/content/student-opportunity-grants