Perspectives on Agricultural Technology

Under intensive regulatory, commercial, and academic oversight, and notwithstanding its widespread and rapid rate of adoption, biotechnology has produced huge gains in well-being that have flowed to society without any evidence of adverse health or environmental effects.

Americans woke up on Wednesday, November 9, immediately realizing something was different. On their televisions and other devices, they only saw commercials for products, vacation spots, and reality shows.

The Biden Administration is using a comprehensive set of tools to stick closely to campaign promises around — and the public demand for — climate action.

Karen Carr and Malerie Ma Roddy will present at the 2022 AALA Annual Agricultural Law Educational Symposium on Friday, November 11, 2022.

Hydroponic production has become increasingly popular in American agriculture. Historically, fruits and vegetables had been grown exclusively on traditional soil-based farms. Hydroponics, by contrast, are typically grown in greenhouses and urban farms using innovative new technologies.

On September 13, 2022, a federal court in San Francisco decided an NGO-led challenge to the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) final rule establishing a national standard for the disclosure of bioengineered foods.

AgTech Industry Group Co-Leader Karen Carr will join a panel discussion on organic policy at the International Fresh Produce Association’s The Washington Conference on September 28.

President Biden has revealed the next areas of focus in his effort to protect the United States’ technological leadership and economic competitiveness: biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and the bioeconomy.

Agricultural Technology Industry Group Co-Leader Karen Ellis Carr will present in a webinar hosted by the American Agricultural Law Association (AALA) on August 30.

In July 2018, the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ), the EU’s Highest Court, issued a decision clarifying whether the EU would regulate products of innovative breeding techniques, like gene editing, under the EU’s Directive 2001/18, the principal EU law governing the regulation of GMOs.

Environmentally responsible fashion has become a key marketing signal for many global brands, with advertising claims such as “sustainable,” “responsibly sourced,” “organic,” and “recycled” cropping up throughout the fashion industry. These claims respond to growing demand from consumers.

On March 7, 2022, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), operating under its New Animal Drug Authority, took a new, important regulatory step forward in assessing genome editing in animals. Specifically, the Agency announced a “low risk” determination and exercise of enforcement discretion.

As you know, in our recent Alert, we addressed the announcement of the members of the FCC’s Precision Agriculture Connectivity Task Force (“Task Force). Now, the FCC has announced the new members of the four “Working Groups” that will assist the Task Force in carrying out its work.

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The role of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) factors in capital allocation and investment decisions are poised to take center stage in 2022. A trend that entered the mainstream with a statement from the Business Roundtable in 2019, signaling a shift in the business community.

The Precision Agriculture Connectivity Task Force has been Re-Chartered for a Second Term, and its Industry Members have been announced. The first meeting of the re-chartered Task Force has been scheduled for January 13, 2022, at 10 am.

Karen Carr, Co-Leader of Arent Fox’s Agricultural Technology Industry Group, will speak at the American Bar Association Section of Environment, Energy and Resources’ and CropLife America’s 2021 Annual Conference on November 10.

On November 4, 2021, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued its long-awaited emergency temporary standard (ETS) mandating that large employers require employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or obtain weekly tests and wear face coverings in the workplace.  

A recent announcement by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) got the immediate attention of companies that manufacture, process, or import finished products for sale and use by consumer, commercial, and industrial customers. 

AgTech companies promoting sustainability and positive social impacts may benefit from improving impact investors’ ability to assess and compare entities on these issues.

Carbon-reduction claims, such as “carbon neutral” and claims about lower “carbon footprints,” are proliferating in the marketplace. Many of these advertising claims are based on the purchase of carbon credits, an environmental asset that represents a verifiable reduction in carbon dioxide (or other

FCC Seeks Nominations for Membership on Task Force and Its Working Groups by July 12, 2021

In seeking public comments and suggestions on how to improve the exemption process for pesticides the EPA has provided a unique opportunity for developers to argue for an expedited path to market for their innovative AgTech as well as conventional products.

AgTech companies face an exciting opportunity to play a large role in achieving sustainability and promoting ESG.

Biden’s Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad presents the agriculture sector with opportunities to have a voice in how the Administration meets its targets to reduce and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.