In an effort to end the months-long blockade on the Ukraine border, Poland’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Czeslaw Siekierski, signed an agreement this past Saturday. The agreement was made with Teresa Kubas-Hul, the provincial governor of Pokarpackie, and Roman Kondrow, a representative of the farmer group Oszukana Wieś, otherwise known as Deceived Village….
Recently, two identical defamation lawsuits filed by Grover Gaming against employees of a competing firm, Powerhouse Gaming Inc., have been allowed to proceed by a federal judge in Virginia. Grover Gaming, an electronic pull tabs provider licensed by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Office of Charitable and Regulatory Programs, alleges that Powerhouse…
The nomination of a prominent American Indian lawyer, Sara Hill, to a trial court in Oklahoma has stirred up controversy within the state’s Republican party, despite the nomination coming from President Joe Biden himself. The divisive reaction has emerged due to differing opinions among the state’s GOP leadership. Bloomberg Law reported on the unfolding situation…
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) recently issued a final rule that significantly updates the list of Bioengineered Foods. The list is maintained under the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (NBFDS). Specific amendments to the list include the addition of BT insect-resistant varieties of sugarcane. Notably, the rule also amends the…
Regulation can often seem like a labyrinth to those attempting to bring a new product to the table in the U.S., especially within the healthy food and beverage sector. Identifying the authorities that govern one’s product and understanding their respective purview is a paramount initial step. However, this task might not always be as straightforward…
The Comisión Nacional del Agua (CONAGUA), Mexico’s national water authority, has recently published a draft for a new Official Mexican Standard (NOM). The goal of this proposed legislation is to increase effectiveness in the prevention of contamination of aquifers and maintain both the quantity and quality of water resources. The move, outlined in detail at…
Firli Bahuri, the Chairman of Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), has been identified as a suspect in an alleged extortion case involving the former Indonesian Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo. This allegation was confirmed Wednesday by Ade Safri Simanjuntak, Jakarta police’s director for special crime. He affirmed there was “sufficient evidence” for these accusations….
The changing landscape of U.S. biotechnology regulations has been a topic of increasing focus, and for good reason. Especially now, as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) have recently opened requests for stakeholder engagement pertaining to such regulatory frameworks. This development provides an opening for key players the…
In the latest issues of Food Venture Financing News, companies in the foodtech and agtech sectors reveal their latest finance ventures. Most notably, Aigen, a leading name in the agtech industry, announced it has secured $12 million in its Series A financing. Aigen is known for their innovative approach towards the agriculture industry, with a…
The United States has seen a surge of activity from key federal environmental regulators, notably from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), various federal departments, and the Council on Environmental Quality. Even the Department of Agriculture has grappled with the challenge of managing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions within its remit over agricultural operations and national forests….
In a recent verdict that may impact regulations in the food and agriculture industry, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to revoke all food tolerances for chlorpyrifos, a pesticide extensively used by growers. The case in question is Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Ass’n v….
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been ordered to pay Michael Johnson Logging $10,632 in lawyers’ fees and costs over its faulty opposition to the company’s contract breach appeal, according to a recent ruling. Judge Kathleen J. O’Rourke of the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals stated that the timber company is entitled to these…
The recently released Fifth National Climate Assessment from the US government confirms an increase in extreme weather events as a direct result of climate change, despite a national decrease in US greenhouse gas emissions. The report emphasizes the urgent need for further action to avert potential nationwide catastrophe. The urgency comes in the backdrop of…
In this week’s edition of Food Venture Financing News, the focus turns south, to Mexico and a fledgling agrifintech company called Verqor. Recognized for its innovative efforts to solve credit availability issues for farmers in Mexico, Verqor recently managed to secure $7.5 million in funding. Verqor’s business model is particularly intriguing as it bridges the…
In a latest development in the realm of environmental law, a citizen suit was filed on November 2nd by the advocacy groups, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Maricopa Audubon Society (collectively referred to as “Audubon”). The suit calls attention to alleged violations by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Bureau…
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in association with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), have elicited the opinions of stakeholders on a proposed framework created with a view to enhance the evaluation of antimicrobial-resistance risks connecting to the use of pesticides. The request was…
When does the federal government’s sovereign immunity apply? This question was the center of debate during discussions about the ‘U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Rural Housing Service v. Kirtz’ case. Congress has established under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) that if a private lender fails to respond promptly to a consumer’s claim of…
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently published an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) dated October 12, 2023, initiating a public consultation to gather feedback on distinct issues concerning treated seed and paint. As disclosed in this JD Supra report, this comment-seeking activity revolves around seed treated with standard pesticides and paint treated with…
Eversheds Sutherland, an international law firm, recently advised four global food and agriculture companies – Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), Cargill, Louis Dreyfus Company, and Olam- on the establishment of a unique joint venture. The primary objective of this venture was to develop a digital platform designed to monitor and standardize sustainability metrics called TRACT….
As the U.S. Supreme Court wraps up its November oral arguments sessions, several significant legal cases vie for attention. The cases under consideration delve into a diverse range of topics, from the Second Amendment rights of individuals with domestic violence orders to the applicability of the Fair Credit Reporting Act to the federal government, all…
As we move well into Q4 and nearer to the close of 2023, family-owned businesses find themselves at a significant point in time. While continuing to navigate the remaining weeks of the fiscal year, they are also pressed to think back on the successes and challenges of the past months and strategically plan for the…
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit recently provided a significant ruling in favor of several agricultural groups. The court has granted these groups’ petitions for a review pertaining to a directive by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA had previously placed a ban on the use of a well-known pesticide named…
In this Monday’s argument, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Rural Housing Service v. Kirtz, a noteworthy legal issue was brought to light. A critical issue arising from your typical consumer lending dispute revolves around the federal government’s asserted immunity from lawsuits under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a claim not typically associated with private…
As the winter season draws near, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is bringing attention to the heightened safety concerns for tractor operators. In a move reflective of their well-documented commitment to worker safety, OSHA is encouraging the increased use of rollbars or cage frames, a safety measure which is especially vital with the…
The H-2A program, designated for foreign agricultural workers, plays a notable role in facilitating labor-intensive farming across the United States, and specifically in North Carolina. The program addresses the issues related to the shortage of domestic labor in sectors of the farming industry, thus aiding in the upkeep of the agricultural sector as a whole…