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Agriculture

Agriculture sits at the crossroads of food production, environmental protection, animal welfare, and innovation. Whether you grow crops, breed livestock, produce agricultural inputs, or develop new agritech and biobased solutions, your activities are shaped by an extensive body of EU and Dutch legislation. This includes rules on plant protection products and fertilisers, seed and propagating material, genetically modified organisms (“GMOs”), access and benefit-sharing obligations under the Nagoya Protocol and the EU ABS Regulation, and the EU Common Agricultural Policy (“CAP”)-based regulatory framework. Sustainability requirements are becoming increasingly prominent, from soil and water protection to biodiversity and climate-related obligations. Successfully operating in this sector means understanding how all these frameworks interact and affect your business.

Our expertise

We have broad experience advising across the agricultural value chain, from primary producers and cooperatives to input suppliers, agrifood processors, and agritech companies. Our team is well-versed in the regulatory frameworks governing plant protection products, fertilisers, seeds, GMOs, as well as in the CAP subsidy schemes that support many agricultural businesses. We combine this regulatory knowledge with a solid understanding of the commercial and contractual realities of farming, cooperatives, and agrifood supply chains.

How we can help

We advise on the authorisation and compliant use of plant protection products, biocides, and fertilisers, and on the regulatory classification of novel agricultural inputs, including biobased and biostimulant products. We assist with permitting and licensing procedures and support clients monitoring their compliance with the CAP-framework regarding regulated products. On the commercial side, we draft and negotiate contracts throughout the agrifood chain, including licensing agreements, supply agreements with growers and cooperatives and distribution agreements. We also advise on the regulatory aspects of GMOs and new genomic techniques, and on sustainability and environmental claims made in relation to agricultural products. When disputes or enforcement action arise, for example where the Dutch Food Safety Authority (NVWA) or another competent authority takes enforcement measures, or where a dispute arises with a business partner in the supply chain, we represent and support you throughout the process.

Recent

Agriculture Commercial Contracts Testimonial

Axon drafted a cooperation agreement between an agro crop improvement company and four other companies, being both shareholders and competitors at the same time.

Agriculture Biotech Food and Feed Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement Spin-out and Starter Advisory Testimonial

As a partner of StartLife, Axon assisted a feed company with the regulatory qualification of its technology. Our reasoned opinion serves as a key document for the company’s funding activities.

Agriculture Biotech Intellectual Property and Licensing Testimonial

Axon advised a Dutch joint venture, that is active within the agri-food and agricultural biotechnology sector, on the transfer of its assets to a German investment fund. The transferred assets involved patent rights, plant breeders’ rights, trade secrets and biological materials.

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