Appalachian Sustainable Development (ASD), a nonprofit organization that supports local agriculture to help promote more resilient economies and healthier populations in Central Appalachian communities, will hold a conference January 9 on “Intersections: Aligning Agriculture, Nutrition, Health, and Economic Development.”

The conference, in Kingsport, Tennessee, will bring together partners from the agriculture, nutrition, health, and economic development sectors in northeast Tennessee and southwest Virginia to explore opportunities to improve the region’s economic and physical health through agriculture and food systems. Attendees will identify ways to deepen impacts of these efforts by creating connections between organizations and projects.

ARC Federal Co-Chair Earl Gohl will provide the conference’s keynote address and serve as panel moderator. Speakers will also include Robin Robbins of ASD/Appalachian Harvest; Shannon Blevins, associate vice chancellor of economic development and engagement at the University of Virginia College at Wise; and Roger Leonard, board chair of Wellmont Health System and management consultant at the Summit Companies.

The conference will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee in Kingsport. Registration is required. For more information and to register, email gpatrick@asdevelop.org.