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Starting a New Food Law Society 101 – A Step by Step Guide

Written by Zoe Grant- J.D. Candidate 2019 (University of Oregon)

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(Photo from the University of Surrey’s Webpage)

 

A Food Law Society can be a great way to collaborate with other students interested in practicing Food Law and make professional connections. Unfortunately, many law schools do not have any Food oriented organizations readily available to join. No problem! Be a trailblazer! Here are some tips that will be helpful for those interested in starting a new Food Law Society at their law school:

1) Talk to Your Peers – While Food Law may be a niche practice area, interest in the field is growing fast. All of us eat food and most of us love the opportunity to talk about it as well. Food is a common denominator across all of humanity and it is likely that your fellow law students have strong opinions on the topic that they will be willing to voice given a platform. Look for students who recognize the basic necessity of sustainable food systems and the legal frameworks to support them to get the conversation started.

2) Find a Faculty Advisor – Reach out to professors from your law school that have done research relating to Food Law (even if it’s only tangentially related). Chances are they will be interested in working with students who share their academic interests. Ask if they would be willing to support your new Food Law Society in an advisory capacity. They may contribute ideas for future activities or have professional contacts that could be speakers at your next Food Law Society meeting.

3) Throw a Potluck – Potlucks are a fantastic way to bring students together and they can also be stimulating conversation starters. There is no better way to kick off a constructive discussion of Food Policy than by sharing a meal together! Potlucks can be a great backdrop for a first meeting or can be regularly scheduled events.

4) Meet with your Student Bar Association – Your law school’s SBA will likely be a great resource in establishing your new Food Law society. They can tell you what steps are required to be officially recognized and may even have some funds available to support future events your Food Law Society wants to host.

5) Establish a Mentorship Program – This last point is key. Once your Food Law Society has been founded it is important to build mechanisms to ensure membership stays strong, otherwise enthusiasm can quickly diminish. Try pairing interested first year students with 2Ls and 3Ls. A mentorship program within a Food Law Society is a great way to engage 1Ls early on and grow a new generation of leaders to keep you Food Society running for years to come.

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Big Data, Big Questions: The 2018 Farm Bill and the Landscape of Data Privacy, Security, and Ownership

Written by Eliza Pan, Summer 2017 intern in the Food Law and Policy Clinic.

 

While “farming” may still evoke pastoral images for many Americans, modern agriculture has become increasingly data-driven in the last decade. Since Monsanto’s approximately $1-billion acquisition of The Climate Corporation in 2013, ag data has generated both significant investment and debate. In 2016, investments in precision agriculture technologies totaled $405 million, even after declining 39% from the previous year.

The rise of big data in agriculture has pushed questions about data privacy, security, and ownership to the forefront of discussion among farmers, commentators, and policymakers. The proliferation of precision agriculture, which ranges from straightforward spot application of pesticides to complex GPS-driven variable application of agricultural inputs, has helped to increase yields and profits for farmers. However, alongside these benefits are serious concerns about the use of sensitive data by agriculture technology providers (ATPs), commodity traders, and even rival farmers.

In response to these growing concerns, an industry coalition led by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) devised the Privacy and Security Principles for Farm Data in 2014. Thirty-seven organizations have since adopted the thirteen core principles, which govern issues ranging from data ownership to security safeguards. These core principles also form the foundation of the AFBF’s Ag Data Transparency Evaluator (ADTE), which allows ATPs to earn an “Ag Data Transparent” designation by voluntarily submitting their ag data contracts to a third-party evaluation.

The prospective role of the federal government in regulating ag data issues remains to be seen. The 2014 Farm Bill authorized the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to prioritize research into agriculture systems and technology, and NIFA has recently begun accepting research proposals related to big data. In addition to supporting research through NIFA, the USDA has the potential to provide greater oversight of ag data privacy, security, and ownership through the 2018 Farm Bill. Confronted with a myriad of murky legal questions and hurdles, ag data stakeholders will soon learn if the federal government intends to offer additional guidance or strengthen its regulations.