Center for Agriculture and Food Systems

Provides students with a working knowledge of the general principles of administrative law; implementation of legislative policy through administrative agencies, including the role of administrative agencies in the governmental process, rule making, adjudication, and judicial review of agency actions.

Examines the legal challenges raised for society to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Students will examine the confusion and inadequacy of current legal and policy structures to address new risks, and the need for alternative tools in light of rapidly changing circumstances.

Climate change is the most profound social and environmental issue of the 21st century. This course will integrate the emerging science and law of climate change along with economic and inter-generational equity aspects of the problem. We will consider how existing federal laws such as the Clean Air Act and NEPA may be used to address climate change as well as how new more comprehensive laws may be fashioned. Different policy instruments will be considered including carbon taxes and emissions trading.

An exploration the types of environmental risks and issues that are commonly confronted in a variety of business-related transactions such as the acquisition of all of the stock of a company, asset purchases, real estate deals, leases and financings. Special focus on how the environmental issues in transactions are identified and managed in the course of a deal. The unique environmental issues associated with the purchase and redevelopment of contaminated properties or so-called Brownfield sites are also covered.

An introduction to the broader categories of protecting human health and the environment to both assess the successes and failures of environmental protection in the U.S. and gain more detailed substantive knowledge of several key statutes.

Provides an opportunity to obtain field based experience on a part-time basis. A JD skills class.

Presently, the United States is experiencing a resurgence in public concern over the safety of our food supply due to biotechnology, pesticide use, and unsafe food packaging, etc. This course will introduce students to the laws and policies that govern food regulation and policy in the United States.

This course addresses the legal landscape of global hunger, and the ways in which climate change, population growth and economic inequality intersect with food security law and policy challenges. We’ll address how “food security” and “hunger” are defined and measured for policy-making purposes.

Feeding a growing global population—9.6 billion by 2050—without destroying our planet is one of the critical challenges of our time. Overlay the impacts of climate change, international trade, and the influence of corporations on agricultural production, and this is one of the most complex areas of the law and policy. It is also one of the fastest growing areas, fueled by the food movement both domestically and internationally, greater public awareness of food issues and concerns related to the healthfulness of our food. Indeed, this is an exciting time to be studying food systems law.

Examines the tools available to preserve ecological diversity, historic places, working lands, scenic viewsheds, and open space, such as conservation easements, purchase of sensitive lands, and private/public partnerships for land conservation. The course provides a practical understanding of both the legal and nonlegal dimensions of land conservation transactions involving conservation easements.

An introduction to land transaction and finance, covering the study of the title system, title insurance and land contracts, the private development process, and modern real estate financing, including private financing and public financing. The course also introduces the public-private development process including redevelopment, military base conversion and Brownfield’s redevelopment.

A basic course in land use law. Covers planning and all manner of private and public land use regulation from common interest communities, to subdivisions, to zoning, to variances, to planned development districts, to transit-oriented development, to traditional neighborhood design, to form-based codes, to growth management.

A basic course in land use law. Covers planning and all manner of private and public land use regulation from common interest communities, to subdivisions, to zoning, to variances, to planned development districts, to transit-oriented development, to traditional neighborhood design, to form-based codes, to growth management.

Examines the interaction of state, federal, and international regimes in the regulation of the marine environments through the examination of issues such as the marine environment as a source of energy; the nonrenewable resources of the seabed; and the winds, waves, currents, and temperatures of the sea itself. An AWR class.

Introduces students to the breadth of policies and legal authorities included in the Farm Bill that Congress re-evaluates every 5 years. Time will be spent on farm safety nets, conservation and nutrition policies. This course will also demonstrate the depth that a modern farm bill reaches with impacts on private working lands and consumers. International trade, clean energy, forestry, rural development, and overall food policies will be reviewed.

Covers the evolution and regulation of animal agriculture in America, contrasted with farmed animal welfare policies in other developed nations. Will evaluate the long-term sustainability of CAFO food production specifically and animal food production generally. Students will explore the pressures from increased international trade in agricultural products.

Water is the planet’s most precious natural resource. Deciding how it will be shared among competing demands is one of a society’s most challenging questions. Water Resources Law is a review of the law and policies concerned with the allocation of water resources in the United States. This course will examine the three main systems of water law in the United States: Eastern riparian systems, the prior appropriation doctrine of the West, and the nationally diverse laws regulating the use of groundwater.

This guide will help gleaning organizations understand and manage some of the food safety liability risks of value-added production.

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Because they interact with many parts of the food system, food hubs must comply with different food safety laws and regulations. That compliance may be more complex than it would be for food system actors who only work at one level of the food system. This resource, in conjunction with legal advice, can help food hub leaders understand the legal landscape in order to build compliance and risk management strategies.

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Current use programs—which generally allow farmers to pay taxes on their land at current (agricultural) value rather than its assessed value for another non-farming use—are an important tool in the farmland preservation toolbox.

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“Defensive publication” keeps genetic resources available without use restrictions or liability for infringement, and for a fraction of the cost of pursuing a patent. For plant breeders, the process can make genetic material more widely available for research. Ultimately, this could also make seeds more affordable and accessible for farmers. This guide outlines practices for breeders to keep genetic resources in the public domain.

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As FDA considers redefining the term “healthy” to make it align with current nutrition science and the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans, this brief explores the controversial use of “healthy” claims on food product labels.

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Among types of food fraud, seafood fraud is prolific—and distinct in its implications for natural resource management. Currently, there is no single authority that regulates seafood in the United States, resulting in a patchwork approach that simultaneously provides opportunities for specialized expertise while also allowing for significant gaps in enforcement. This report examines how the United States currently regulates seafood and makes recommendations for policymakers to address the issue of seafood fraud both domestically and abroad.

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“Local” is frequently used to describe food in both the law and the marketplace—but the term remains largely undefined. And when it comes to local food legislation, that vagueness can make it difficult to meet policy goals and evaluate impacts. This report examines the term “local” from a legal perspective. It also draws from a nationwide scan of state policies to compare different approaches to defining the term. We hope it will be useful to policymakers, researchers, and advocates who are involved in creating or evaluating local food legislation.

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While many of us have a vague idea of what agritourism means, there’s no standard legal definition—and policies are evolving quickly. That’s why CAFS released a report comparing state agritourism laws across the country and identifying legislative trends. The goal is to assist policymakers in drafting effective agritourism legislation addressing key areas like liability, zoning, fundings, taxation, and licensing.

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Country of Origin Labeling is designed to help consumers make more informed choices and to support domestic growers. However, standards have the potential to confuse consumers as to what “Product of USA” means.

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