Co-Chair
Lynn Bergeson
Co-Chair
Alvaro Carrau
The Agriculture and Food Section (AFS) is for those interested in any area of the ever-evolving area of agricultural law. Learn more about our section below.
The Agriculture and Food Section (AFS), formerly the Agricultural Law Section (ALS) is a young and dynamic Section that focuses on the ever evolving and critically important intersection of agricultural and food law and policy. What could be more essential, more urgent, and more fascinating than the complex law and policy issues invited by the imperative to feed the planet, to do so equitably, and to do so effectively in a time of climate change and during/post a global pandemic? The AFS covers a comprehensive and emerging legal practice area, in particular relating to:
The Agriculture and Food Section (AFS) is pleased to be leading two sessions at IBA 2024, the International Bar Association’s (IBA) annual conference in Mexico City, September 15-20, 2024. Both sessions will further AFS’s mission to focus on the complex law and policy issues invited by the imperative to feed the planet, to do so equitably, and to do so effectively in a time of climate change and during/post a global pandemic.
This session will explore the emerging technologies that are transforming agriculture, including artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of things, agricultural drones, and precision agriculture, among other technologies. Speakers will discuss the implications of these technologies for increasing efficiency, productivity, and sustainability in agriculture, as opposed to the challenges and concerns related to data privacy, ethics, and regulation.
Session/Workshop Chair(s)
Speakers
Committees
This session intends to explore the impacts of the foreign ownership of farmland from an economic, social, and environmental perspective. Speakers will address the cross-border challenges faced in regulating and monitoring these transactions and the benefits and risks associated with foreign investment in farmland.
Session/Workshop Chair(s)
Speakers
Committees
Highlights from the 2023 IBA Annual Conference
The International Bar Association (IBA) Annual Conference took place in Paris from October 29 to November 3, 2023. During the Annual Conference, the Agriculture and Food Section (AFS) welcomed attendees to two sessions, as lead sponsor of “Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) regulation in the context of one health: how legislation can help reduce AMR” and as a co-sponsor of Biodiversity -- our life source, not just a resource: new legal instruments to protect and restore.”
On October 31, 2023, during “Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) regulation in the context of one health: how legislation can help reduce AMR”' panelists explored the legal and policy challenges of preventing the increase of AMR while feeding a growing world population and meeting global food security concerns. The speakers discussed viable solutions to addressing AMR, including the planned release of a Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) toolkit, Quadripartite Legislative Assessment Tool for Antimicrobial Resistance, for addressing AMR globally. Lynn L. Bergeson, Managing Partner, Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. (B&C®) and Anderson Ribeiro, Partner, Souto Correa Advogados chaired the session, and Carmen Bullon, FAO Legal Advisor and an internationally recognized AMR expert; Philippe Becquet, Independent Expert Consultant, International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF), an agronomist specializing in animal nutrition; and Gilles Boin, Partner, Qolumn, with a specialization in French and European Products Law, presented.
Lynn L. Bergeson, AFS Chair; Anderson Riberio, Workshop Chair; Carmen Bullon, FAO; Gilles Boin, Qolumn; and Philippe Becquet, IFIF, introduce 'Antimicrobial resistance regulation in the context of one health: how legislation can help reduce AMR' at the IBA Annual Conference.
Nora Patricia Von Bergen, AFS Diversity and Inclusion Officer; Jan Holthuis, AFS Advisory Board Member; Nusrat Hassan, AFS Advisory Board Member; Anderson Riberio, Souto Correa Advogados; Gilles Boin, Qolumn; Lynn L. Bergeson, AFS Chair; Philippe Becquet, IFIF; and Carmen Bullon, FAO.
On November 2, 2023, during Biodiversity -- our life source, not just a resource: new legal instruments to protect and restore”, panelists spoke extensively on the best science about progressive extinction of species and how biodiversity can be protected amid economic drivers, lawsuits, and extractive industries. Professor Wilhelm Bergthaler, Haslinger / Nagele Rechtsanwälte GmbH; Chiara Colamonico, DLA Piper Italia; and Els Reynaers Kini, M V Kini Law Firm, chaired the session, and Juliette Bril, Fairway Avocats; Dörte Fouquet, Becker Büttner Held; Pooven Moodley, Natural Justice; and Dr. Pia Sethi, Centre for Ecology Development and Research, presented.
An overview of the 'Antimicrobial Resistance Regulation in the Context of One Health: How Legislation Can Help Reduce AMR' session, answers to submitted questions, and slides are available here.
Please contact the IBA Membership Office at www.ibanet.org/membership/joinTheIBA if you are interested in joining, or e-mail lbergeson@lawbc.com for more information about the AFS.
Watch session here
Continuing last year’s successful series with the same title, focused on Africa and Asia-Pacific, the IBA AFS presents the latest capacity development webinar for lawyers on responsible land-based investments in agriculture, this time focusing on the Latin American region. A trailer is available below. To view the full webinar please email webinars@int-bar.org.
The article discusses the CJUE ruling of 14 October 2021 in case C-186/18 on limitations on claims for infringement of an EU protected plant variety right. The crux of the ruling was a determination of the date of counting a three-year period after which claims become time-barred – specifically, in reference to ongoing infringements. The conclusions of CJUE are compared to those of the Polish Supreme Court in a ruling concerning limitations on claims for infringement of an EUTM in which a different view of the ongoing nature of certain infringements of IP is taken.
Released on Jun 02, 2023
This article provides an overview of Brazilian law and regulation on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and presents the most current legal discussions involving the use of GMOs in the food industry. The CTNBio and other surveillance authorities created a solid legal basis on biosafety for use of GMOs, however it is still a target of controversies by civil society and experts regarding risks to health and ethical issues.
Released on Jun 02, 2023
Pakistan, as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and a signatory to the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (‘TRIPS Agreement’), is obligated to protect new plant varieties under article 27.3(b) of the TRIPS Agreement.
Released on Apr 12, 2023
Although 38 per cent of the world’s population live within a narrow fringe of coastal land, it occupies only 7.6 per cent of the Earth’s total land surface (UN Environment Programme 2006). These populations largely depend on coastal resources for their livelihoods.
Released on Jun 01, 2021
Food law: regulatory frameworks play catch up on cultivated meat products. In this news analysis, Jan Holthuis, Member of the IBA Agriculture and Food Section Section was interviewed about the situation in cultivated meat.
Cultivated meat is, according to Philip Lymbery, Chief Executive of animal welfare charity Compassion in World Farming, ‘humanity’s version of something that nature has already given us’. Noting that it’s produced in a bioreactor ‘from stem cells harmlessly drawn from donor animals’, Lymbery says lab-grown meat is therefore a ‘game-changer’ because it replicates nature ‘without the slaughter’.
Read the full article: Food law: regulatory frameworks play catch up on cultivated meat products
The Agriculture and Food Section is strongly committed to upholding and promoting Diversity and Inclusion for its members and activities. The Section advocates for the inclusion and empowerment of all and the elimination of discrimination on the basis of gender, age, culture, race, ethnicity, religion, disability, socioeconomic standing, gender identity or sexual orientation.
How to reduce bias?
How to be more inclusive?
Actions taken within the Section:
The Agriculture and Food Section also coordinates the activities of the following subcommittees/working groups.
If you are a member of the Agriculture and Food Section, for additional networking opportunities, programs, interviews with fellow members and tips all exclusive to members, join our LinkedIn page at: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12856078/.