So, Who are the Panelists at the Agriculture and Food Systems Conference?

Vermont Law Review has assembled an impressive group of scholars, advocates, scientists, and government officials for the Conference on Agriculture and Food Systems.Below find links to speakers biographies and books we have in the collection which they have authored.

8:30-8:45
Welcome and Introductions

Marc Mihaly, President and Dean
Vermont Law School

8:45-10:00
Agriculture and Water Quality

Robert Adler
James I. Farr Chair in Law
University of Utah S. J. Quinney College of Law
Alder, has published numerous articles and books. We have four books in the collection.

Jan Laitos
John A. Carver Jr. Professor of Law
University of Denver Sturm College of Law
Jan has published substantially on natural resource law and nonuese.

David Mears JD/MSL ′91
Commissioner
Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation

10:00-11:15
Public Health Issues Related to Food Production and Consumption
Laurie Beyranevand ′03
Associate Professor of Law
Vermont Law School
Beyrandevand has published, most recently, Milking It: Reconsidering the FDA’s Refusal to Require Labeling of Dairy Products Produced from rBST Treated Cows in Light of International Dairy Foods Association v. Boggs

Lisa Heinzerling
Professor of Law
Georgetown University Law Center
We have two of Heinzerling’s books in the Environmental Collection.

Dr. Urvashi Rangan
Director of the Consumer Safety and Sustainability Group
Consumer Reports
Check out Dr. Rangan’s work at Consumer Reports.

11:15-12:30PM
Public Regulation of Genetically Modified Organisms

Rebecca Bratspies
Professor of Law
CUNY School of Law
Professor Bratspies has published in the field of international law and the environment. We have three of her books in the collection.

Dr. Margaret Mellon
Senior Scientist, Food and Environment Program
Union of Concerned Scientists
We have three of Margaret’s books in the collection.

David Wirth
Professor
Boston College Law School

Wirth has published many articles on topics ranging from teaching environmental law, economics, agricultural law and more.

12:30-1:15
Lunch
Please join us for a delicious, locally sourced meal.

1:15-2:00
Keynote Address

Kathleen A. Merrigan
Deputy Secretary
U.S. Department of Agriculture

2:00-3:15
Sustainable Animal Agriculture

Dr. Lauren Gwin
Co-coordinator, Niche Meat Processor Assistance Network
Research Associate, Oregon State College of Agricultural Sciences

Michelle Nowlin
Senior Lecturing Fellow and Supervising Attorney for the Environmental Law and Policy Clinic
Duke Law School

David Wolfson
Partner
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP

3:15-3:30
Coffee Break

3:30-4:45
The Future of Federal Farm Policy

Chris Adamo ′04
Staff Director
U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee

Helen Dombalis
Policy Associate
National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

Bill Eubanks LLM ′08
Associate, Meyer, Glitzenstein & Crystal
Summer Faculty, Vermont Law School

4:45-6:00
Vermont Agriculture: Creating a Prototype for the Nation

Tom Berry
Legislative Aide
U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy

Alison Hooper
Cofounder
Vermont Butter & Cheese Creamery

Chuck Ross
Secretary
Vermont Department of Agriculture

Helen Whybrow
Farm and Food Programs Manager
Center for Whole Communities

Clark Hinsdale
President,
Vermont Farm Bureau

VNRC, Van Jones, and McKibben

I went to Shelburne Farms Saturday night to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Vermont Natural Resources Council (VNRC). VNRC is a member-supported organization which seeks to protect and restore Vermont’s natural resources. Many VLS students have interned at VNRC, and a few staff members have a connection to VLS.  Professor Gus Speth also serves on the advisory board.

The night was a celebration of Vermont’s many forward-looking environmental policies and practices which protect and utilize Vermont’s resources thoughtfully including: Act 250,  Farm-to-Fork imitative, and emerging town energy councils.

It was also a call to action. Keynote speaker, and  co-founder of Rebuild the Dream , Van Jones, talked about putting young people to work doing the jobs that need to be done to shift America’s economy from one that is fueled by “death” (oil) to one that is fueled by renewables. Jones said that every young person in America under the age of 25 should be able to get a job with a government funded “green jobs corps” that would allow allow them to do this important work. Jone’s book The Green Collar Economy explores this topic further.

Vermonter and activist Bill McKibben spoke about 350.org a grassroots, global movement to end the climate crisis. If you need inspiration, and the structure to get involved, this is it. The library environmental collection also has all of McKibben’s books.

Our generation is huge–young people can make a difference with our voting, consumption, and actions. So, let’s go!

Heidi

Cool Stuff to Check Out of the Library!

Besides books, the library has some cool stuff NOT related to the study of law. Be sure to take some time for yourself and the things you enjoy doing. And of course,  at the library, we can help you do that.

Love movies? Check out a portable DVD player.
Want to listen to music? We have headphones.
Dying to get out on the river, or on  MacIntosh pond? Check out a canoe.