The Farm and Food Policy Project (FFPP) was established to allow participating organizations to work collaboratively to advance four interlocking policy initiatives designed to unite diverse constituencies and help to build a more sustainable food and agriculture system in the United States. The Project had four broad goals: 1) promote new agricultural markets and rural entrepreneurship, 2) enhance the economic viability of small- and moderate-sized family farms and ranches, 3) reward environmental stewardship, 4) combat hunger by increasing access to healthy food through community food systems.

In January 2007, the Consensus Building Institute (CBI) lead a collaborative process to evaluate and improve the integrated functioning of the various entities that play a role in a growing Maine Town’s planning “system”. The process engaged over one hundred and fifty citizens, land owners, and professionals, and many stakeholders expressed interest in exploring additional options for educating and engaging the public in land use and other important Town governance issues.