This year’s theme, “Made in Canada: Regulating Local Food in a Global World,” brings together scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and students to explore how Canada can support local food production while meeting its international trade obligations and environmental commitments. Discussions will delve into interprovincial trade barriers, cross-border tariffs, the free movement of goods and workers, and the legal frameworks that influence what and how we eat.
Building Canada’s Food Law Community
The conference begins on October 23 with a “Works-in-progress workshop,” offering emerging and established scholars a chance to share ideas, receive feedback, and build connections in a supportive, collaborative setting. The day also features the “Emerging voices in food law and policy” panel, where students and recent graduates will present their research for a chance to receive the Gowling WLG–Joel Taller Prize for Emerging Voices in Food Law.
The day will close with a special screening of Les Incendies dans les bâtiments agricoles, a short film by Professor Sarah Berger Richardson and Jurivision, which will be followed by a bilingual roundtable discussion with Senator Pierre J. Dalphond, veterinary expert Christie McLeod, and Professor Vincent Caron.
A National Conversation on the Future of Food
On October 24, participants will gather for a full day of plenary sessions examining everything from trade and protectionism to data governance in agriculture and the evolving landscape of food regulation. Speakers will include experts from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the National Farmers’ Union, and several leading law firms and universities.
The event concludes with an “Updates in Canadian Food Law and Policy” session, where leading academics and practitioners will provide an overview of the year’s most significant developments, including topics such as plant breeders’ rights, food labeling, greenwashing, and the regulation of plant-based and cellular agriculture.
Now in its ninth year, the Canadian Food Law and Policy Conference has become a cornerstone event for anyone working to understand and improve the laws that govern our food systems, in Canada and beyond.
Join the event to explore what it means to build a fair, sustainable, and resilient food system “Made in Canada.”
Dates: October 23–24, 2025
Location: University of Ottawa
Learn more and register: foodlaw.ca/home2025