Co-Chair
Alvaro Carrau
Co-Chair
Nora Von Bergen
Agriculture and Food Section
The Agriculture and Food Section (AFS) focuses on the evolving intersection of agricultural and food law and policy. Addressing urgent issues such as equitable food production in the face of climate change, land use, food production and distribution, farmers’ rights, seed and biotechnology laws, food safety, and agri-tech. We also explore sustainable agricultural practices and investment strategies. As a dynamic and essential field, the AFS provides a platform to address critical legal challenges in feeding the planet effectively and sustainably.
About the Section
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:
- Agriculture land usage
- Food production, distribution, and shortages
- Ownership and farmers’ rights
- Seed law, plant variety law, and biotechnology
- Food trade, food safety, and food liability
- Agri-tech
- Sustainable Agriculture—practices and investment strategies
- And much more!
Latest news
Cultivated meat: opportunities and challenges
Cultivated meat, also known as lab-grown or cell-based meat, introduces a groundbreaking approach to meat production, poised to tackle the challenges of traditional animal agriculture. In this webinar, speakers delve into the intricate landscape of cultivated meat, examining both its hurdles and its extraordinary potential.
Our esteemed speakers, experts in their respective fields, dissect the complexities surrounding cultivated meat, encompassing regulatory, technological and market challenges.
Furthermore, the webinar spotlights the considerable opportunities cultivated meat offers, including its environmental benefits when compared to traditional meat production and its contributions to enhancing food security.
Forthcoming conferences and webinars View All Conferences
IBA Annual Conference Toronto 2025
02 Nov - 07 Nov 2025
Toronto , Canada
IBA Annual Conference Copenhagen 2026
04 Oct - 09 Oct 2026
Copenhagen , Denmark
Publications
Limitations on claims for infringement of an EU protected plant variety
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
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their application in Brazilian agriculture and consumer products
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’s plant variety protection laws: balancing national food security with the rights of plant breeders.
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
Regulation of the eco-marine system as a guide to sustainable development growth post Covid-19
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
IBA Global Insight: AFS contributions
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
Diversity and Inclusion (D&I)
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.
- everyone is subject to unconscious bias. Being aware of that makes you more likely to notice biased or stereotypical thought patterns when they arise;
- question your first impressions, as they are a product of automatic thinking which is vulnerable to bias;
- take an honest look at the types of people you resist, seek out and promote;
- justify your decisions by writing down your reasoning and ensure you would be able to justify it to another person; and
- ask for feedback and involve people with different perspectives.
- is there anyone in the team/group who might feel excluded right now? Can you help bridge gaps? Example: do you use everyone’s name equally? If not, are the names you do not use in the same way names that you find hard to pronounce so that you find other ways of addressing them?
- what have you been doing (or not doing) that might affect people with differences you can’t see?
- introduce people in a way that gives tribute to their unique contributions and perspective;
- make a genuine effort to get to know all the people you work with;
- ask what would make it easier for people who are reluctant to speak up; and
- seek to learn from others.
- diversity and inclusion training of the Section officers;
- opening the officer meetings to all members of the Section for their active participation;
- revision of the composition of officers in terms of diversity; and
- ensuring a diverse mix of people for events and panel discussions.
Subcommittees and other groups
The Agriculture and Food Section also coordinates the activities of the following subcommittees/working groups.
- Agriculture and Food Section Advisory Board
Join us on LinkedIn
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/.