Study trip to the Netherlands with OFC speaker

Douwe Korting spoke at OFC in January 2026 (watch here), and following such positive interest, has organised a trip to the Netherlands to see, in practice, his story.

It’s been 5 months since I spoke at the Oxford Farming Conference. It was my first time at the OFC, an event I’ll remember for a long time to come. The response to my talk on Community-Driven Food Systems in The Netherlands and the Q&A afterwards exceeded my expectations.

The many questions and all the enthusiasm prompted me to organise a four-day study trip to the Netherlands. You are welcome to join me from 14–17 October. You will learn from inspiring entrepreneurs who have started doing things differently, locally, together or even on the initiative of citizens. The conversations with them will give new energy, ideas and lessons to take home.

The reason for my OFC talk was a guided tour I gave in 2019 to, amongst others, Sheena Horner, the conference chair for 2027, about the first cooperative and citizen-initiated mixed-use Herenboeren Farm in the Netherlands.

At her invitation, I walked into the magnificent Oxford Examination Schools on 7 January. What followed were three exciting days that gave me, as an outsider, an interesting insight into the current state of affairs and the challenges facing the British food system, and farmers in particular.

One of the speakers from whom I learnt a lot was Louise Manning, with her excellent research UK Agriculture: Grasping the Opportunities. There was a great deal of hope expressed, as UK farmers have always been resilient; and so too are those of today and tomorrow. And speaking of hope, the young farmer Tom York also gave the audience a hugely positive vibe, as did food poverty campaigner Dominic Watters.

Although there was plenty to see and hear in the Examination Schools, my personal highlight was the debate at the Oxford Union. The motion ‘In the next 90 years, farming will become a one-day-a-week job’ was well-chosen, and the delivery was in a league of its own. The preparation, depth, sharpness and humour of the proposers, opposers and the audience in the hall made this a unique experience for me. The versatile young professional Joss Naylor, who made his presence felt on several occasions at the OFC, was the deserved winner. I think we’ll be hearing more from him!

And on day 3, it was my turn to take the attendees through the story of the Herenboeren cooperatives. A distinctive story, because this Dutch cooperative initiative demonstrates that, to solve ‘farming problems’, you may need to mobilise the public with a compelling narrative.

There were many questions from the audience, which were impossible to answer all at once. That is why we are organising a four-day study trip on Community Driven Food and Farming Systems from 14–17 October. Are you interested, or do you know anyone who might be? Check out this website. I look forward to meet you in the Netherlands in October!

Douwe Korting