Agricultural Law
West Virginia College of Law: Agricultural Law Initiatives
One of our alumni from the LL.M. Program in Agricultural & Food Law replied to my call for news regarding law school initiatives in agricultural & food law. Alison Peck, who teaches at the West Virginia College of Law reported on a variety of innovative projects that she is involved in.
Alison reports that she teaches courses related to the question of how the law can guide sustainable development, particularly with relation to global food production and distribution. Her courses include Agriculture & Rural Land Use, Natural Resources, International Environmental Law, International Trade Law, Property, and a seminar in Sustainable Development. These courses will eventually be part of the WVU College of Law’s new Energy and Sustainability Law Program and Center.
I should note that before Alison joined the West Virginia faculty, she developed and taught an excellent seminar in Sustainable Agriculture in our LL.M. Program.
Working together with West Virginia’s Future Farmers of America (FFA), Alison and her colleague, Professor Grace Wigal have established the first annual Agricultural Law Moot Court Competition for West Virginia high schools students. Through the program, FFA students will have an opportunity to practice their advocacy skills with the help of law faculty and students in Alison’s Agriculture & Rural Land Use class. They will argue before state court judges. This year’s problem focuses on the prospect of greenhouse gas regulation of agriculture.