Food, Farming, and Sustainability

Please click here to access the 2015 Supplement to this book. Professor Schneider maintains a website at www.foodfarmingsustainability.com that includes links to the resources referenced throughout this supplement.

Agricultural law is the study of the unique network of laws that apply to the production, marketing, and sale of agricultural products—the food we eat, the natural fibers we wear, and increasingly, the bio-fuels that run our vehicles. Traditionally, agriculture has been favored with exemptions, exceptions, and special rules that reflect the uniqueness and the political power of the industry. In recent years, the study of agricultural law has expanded beyond its traditional scope to include issues of food safety and sustainability. Popular interest in agriculture has increased as consumers seek to know more about their food and where it comes from.

This book provides an issues-based study of these complex topics. It is divided into units designed to introduce some of the critical legal issues facing the industry and consumers today including: federal farm programs, the structure of farms and industrialized agriculture, environmental concerns, migrant labor issues, farm animal welfare, agricultural commercial law, and other topics. The book provides a mix of readings in law and policy. From its initial discussion of "agricultural exceptionalism" to its concluding remarks on the future of our food system, the book is certain to spark thoughtful dialogue.

"The book covers the formation of the USDA and regulations for quality, farm subsidies and government insurance, discrimination against minority and female farmers and the treatment of farm workers, especially undocumented ones. The current concerns about pollution, sustainability and genetic engineering are also addressed. The information is heavily documented and the case studies enlightening. This compilation will be of interest to economists, environmentalists, human rights workers and policy makers, as well as attorneys." — Book News