Law Professors Form Innovative Academic Organization To Promote Field Of Food Law And Policy

Over the past decade, the field of Food Law and Policy has grown by leaps and bounds in law schools across the country. On a variety of metrics, the field is strong and growing, with more than 20 of the top 100 law schools offering courses in the field, and 30 clinics at 23 schools conducting related clinical work. But until now, Food Law and Policy has had no dedicated academic association to serve as a forum for individuals and institutions involved in its teaching and scholarship.

The Academy of Food Law and Policy (AFLP) is a newly-formed academic organization created to address this need. AFLP’s founding Board of Trustees includes Emily Broad Leib, Harvard Law School; Peter Barton Hutt, Covington and Burling (Adjunct Faculty, Harvard Law School); Neil Hamilton, Drake University Law School; Baylen Linnekin, Adjunct Faculty, George Mason Law School; Michael Roberts, UCLA School of Law; Susan Schneider, University of Arkansas School of Law; and Margaret Sova McCabe, University of New Hampshire School of Law. Founding institutional members include Harvard Law School, UCLA School of Law, University of Arkansas School of Law, and Drake Law School.

“As the first food law and policy clinic in the U.S., the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic has great interest in supporting other faculty and law schools in entering the field of food law and policy. I have worked with the other members of the Board of Trustees to establish the Academy of Food Law and Policy in order to provide a space for sharing ideas, knowledge and research, and nurturing social exchange among food law and policy colleagues. I look forward to working with the Board and members to build this into a vibrant organization that serves the needs of the growing community of food law and policy faculty and programs.” – Emily Broad Leib, Director of the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic and Founding Member of the Academy of Food Law and Policy.

The Academy’s mission is to:

1. Engage and connect scholars and professors interested in Food Law & Policy;
2. Facilitate scholarship, collaboration, and collegiality in this field;
3. Encourage teaching and experiential learning opportunities; and
4. Foster the next generation of food law and policy leaders.

The Academy will support local, regional, national, and international collaboration among scholars, professors, and clinicians via workshops, shared resources and materials, and promotion of teaching and engagement in Food Law & Policy issues. By building a strong network, the AFLP will provide a space for sharing ideas, knowledge, and research.

Within the broad mission of AFLP, specific activities and services will respond to the needs of members. These may include:

• Tracking growth of this field through a survey to Academy members;
• Sharing current events, upcoming conferences, and opportunities via the AFLP website;
• Creating a forum for the discussion of Food Law and Policy news and developments;
• Offering social events at conferences and events where AFLP members are present;
• Hosting an annual AFLP workshop, on a topic of interest to AFLP members;
• Providing opportunities for the sharing and workshopping of academic papers and articles; and
• Providing evidence for faculty to share with their schools that this field of law is legitimate and growing.

Working together, law schools and scholars can continue to grow the field of Food Law and Policy through the creation of new courses, publications, centers, programs, and additional opportunities for student engagement and education about the laws and policies impacting our food. The AFLP will help fulfill these ambitions through collaboration and mutual enrichment of its members.

Further information on the Academy of Food Law and Policy can be found at www.AcademyFLP.org.