Agriculture Law Education Initiative (ALEI)

Agriculture Law Education Initiative (ALEI)

Mission: To educate and serve Maryland family farmers through expert information and training that helps navigate complex legal issues such as estates and trusts, regulatory compliance farm food safety, and other aspects of agricultural law.

To learn more

ALEI provides legal education and resources to Maryland’s farm community to explain agricultural law as it evolves to keep pace with the changing realities of farmers and the agricultural industry in the 21^st century. An important part of this education is the network of natural resource protection laws that intersect with agriculture, helping to strengthen both farming and environmental quality.

Outreach

ALEI reaches state’s agricultural community through publications, social media, trainings, and formal classroom education. ALEI leverages its MPower funding by pursuing grants to support additional programming and expansion.

Education

Undergraduate students at UMCP and law school students at UMB benefit from classes taught by legal specialists on agriculture and law. Farmer education and student involvement are key elements of the program, which through relevant law classes prepares students to become critical thinkers and utilize analysis to inspire innovation in farming, food safety, public policy, and community engagement.

MPower supports funding for the Brinsfield Internship Program, a collaboration between the Harry R. Hughes Center for Agro-Ecology and ALEI now in its 8th year. This year, Brinsfield welcomed four interns. Learn more about the Summer 2025 interns here.

10th Annual Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference

*Panel speakers left to right: **Kathleen Hoke**, Carey School of Law, UMB, **Wes Krock**, First Fruits Farm, **Amy Cawley**, Maryland Food Bank*

Each year, ALEI hosts an agricultural and environmental law conference that brings together farmers, attorneys, educators, environmentalists, producers, policymakers, and students to discuss the complex intersection of environmental regulation and agriculture in Maryland.

This year, the 10th Annual University of Maryland Agricultural and Enviromental Law Conference was held on November 12, 2024, in Annapolis. This year’s panel presentations discussed right-to-farm laws, agricultural law, food processing regulations, legal developments in agriculture, sustainable development goals, solar energy, and argitourism.

Initiatives