Is there a “Field” of Food Law and Policy?

Friday November 13, 2026, 11:00am-12:30pm, Room W105

The panel will explore what we might mean when we say "the field" of food law and policy. Do we think "food law and policy" is actually an area of law that we can think about/teach/study as in some way cohesive or connected (are there underlying logics, policy projects, threads etc that underpin a "field"), or is it more something where we look at a bunch of different areas of law (constitutional, public health and safety, labour/employment) and ask how do these each govern/shape food/food systems (or alternatively, where we look at a bunch of areas of the food systems and ask "how does the law govern/shape these")? And does it make a difference how we answer this question? If so, what difference? Join panelists for a (hopefully) lively conversation - and feel free to join in!

Speakers:

Sarah Berger Richardson, Faculty of Law (Civil Law Section) of the University of Ottawa

Jamie Baxter, Schulich School of Law

Amy Cohen, Beasley School of Law, Temple University

Nadia Lambek, Western Faculty of Law

Heather McLeod-Kilmurray, Faculty of Law (Common Law Section) of the University of Ottawa