The mission of the Food and Drug Law Institute (FDLI) is to "provide education, training, and publications on topical food and drug law; act as a liaison to promote networking as a means to develop professional relationships and idea generation; and ensure an open, balanced marketplace of ideas to inform innovative public policy, law, and regulation." And, as part of this mission, FDLI works with the academic community to provide support for its educational efforts in food and drug law.

FDLI is committed to working closely with law schools, providing desk copies of textbooks, as well as academic pricing for books purchased for classes. FDLI sponsors the annual H. Thomas Austern Writing Awards Competition and in the past, has offered a number of academic programs including a grant program, fellows program and summer internship program.

FDLI has a standing committee that focuses on academic programs.