Renowned international law scholar, Professor Uché Ewelukwa Ofodile, has highlighted the need for the rights of farmers to be upheld as the world advances under globalised markets, corporate concentration and climate crisis. She stressed this while speaking as a guest lecturer at Harvard Law School during the 10th Anniversary of the Food Law Student Leadership Summit which held between October 3 and 4, 2025.
The prestigious gathering, which brought together students, scholars, policymakers, and practitioners shaping the future of food law system, had Professor Ofodile treating the theme: ‘Farmers’ Woes, Rights, and Triumph: Farming in the Age of Global Markets, Agribusiness, Corporate Concentration, and the Climate Crisis’, which clearly stresses her critical role as a thought leader, working at the intersection of food systems, human rights, and corporate law.
According to Ofodile, “The challenges facing farmers are immense, from climate change to corporate concentration, but so too are the opportunities for innovation, resilience, and collaboration. We must create space where the rights of farmers are respected and farmers and business leaders can work side by side to build a food system that is just, transparent, sustainable, and inclusive.”
Respected for her insights in law globally, Uche Ofodile’s scholarly antecedents are intimidating. At the University of Arkansas School of Law, she holds the E.J. Ball Endowed Chair and is a member of the faculty of the pioneering LL.M. Program in Agriculture and Food Law — the first such program in the United States, established over forty years ago. Her teaching and research span: International property law; International dispute settlement; Food and agricultural law; International investment and trade law as well as corporate governance and business law.
In 2024, the United Nations Human Rights Council appointed Professor Ofodile as one of five independent experts to the newly-created ‘Working Group on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas’ as the sole representative for Africa.
Over the years, Ofodile, has served as advisor to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD, on international investment policy reform as a sought-after speaker at national and international conferences, addressing lawyers, diplomats, government officials, and civil society leaders.
She has lectured in many universities and academic institutions around the world including Harvard University (Teaching Fellow), Tuft University (Visiting Lecturer), the American University of Armenia (Visiting Professor), and the University of Puerto Rico School of Law (Visiting Professor).
With many laurels in the kitty, Ofodile has received fellowships and awards from institutions such as the Carnegie Council on Ethics and International Affairs and the Albert Einstein Institution.