Insights on Agriculture & AgTech

On August 21, 2020, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) published an interim final rule (IFR) to implement hemp-related amendments to the Federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) that were made by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the 2018 Farm Bill).

Partner Don McLean was a featured panelist in an American Agricultural Law Association webinar discussing pesticide regulation under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), as well a major recent decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

AgTech Partner Karen Carr recently participated in a webinar about the US Department of Agriculture’s final rule addressing regulation of agricultural biotechnology products issued on May 15, 2020.

Arent Fox will host the Washington, DC Section of the Institute of Food Technologists’ 2020 Food Policy Impact meeting in February. Attorneys Karen Carr and Emily Leongini are scheduled to present.

On December 19, 2019, EPA granted the first approvals for the use of crop protection products—nine biopesticides and one conventional pesticide—on hemp, providing a new set of crop protection tools for hemp farmers in time for the 2020 growing season. 

The protection of intellectual property in the biotech industry is critical. Patents are the most common form of IP protection for biotech inventions.

On June 6, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA or Agency) released its proposed revision to Part 340, the regulations implementing USDA’s authority over genetically engineered (GE) organisms, including GE plants.

On May 31st, New York partner Alex Spiegler will be speaking at the 7th Annual World Life Sciences Conference.

On May 6, New York partner Alex Spiegler hosted a webinar Yeshiva University’s Katz School of Science and Health.

Arent Fox hosted the Institute of Food Technologies and American Society for Nutrition’s 8th Annual Food Policy Impact meeting at the DC office on February 11-12th.