The Oxford Farming Conference
Tuesday 3rd January, 2017
13:00
Emerging Leaders Lunch
Venue: Room 6
Register in Room 7 (Secretariat)
14:00
Registration
Venue: Entrance Foyer
14:15
14:30
Fringe Events
| Time | Host | Fringe Title | Venue |
| 14.30 - 15.15 | OFC | Emerging Leaders | Room 14-15 |
| 15.15 - 16.00 | BASF |
Crop protection regulatory threats & opportunities post Brexit |
Room 9 |
| 15.15 - 16.00 | CHAP | Delivering Sustainable Solutions for the Agri-Food Supply Chain | Room 11 |
| 16.30 - 17.15 | AHDB |
Inspiring our farmers and growers to succeed in this rapidly changing world |
Room 9 |
| 16.30 - 17.15 | Volac, Quorn Foods & WWF | Protein Challenge 2040: What’s the opportunity for UK food and farming | Room 11 |
| 18.00 - 19.00 | Innovative Farmers |
The 'Grate' Cheese Debate How does the way we farm affect the food we eat? With Cheese & Wine. Open to OFC and ORFC delegates |
St Edmunds Hall |
Fringe Event Refreshments will be available from 16.00 to 16.30 and 17.15 to 17.45 giving delegates some valuable networking time between events.
All Fringe meetings will be held at the Oxford University Examination Schools, with the exception of the Innovative Farmers event which will be held at St Edmunds Hall.
The Fringe Events topics and content are selected and delivered by the host companies running each session.
16:00
Scholars' Reception
Sponsored by McDonald's
OFC Scholars event.
Venue: Room 6, Oxford University Examination Schools.
18:00
Chairman's Drinks Reception
Sponsored by McDonald's
For Patrons, Scholars, Speakers and Sponsors.
Venue: Room 6, Oxford University Examination Schools.
18:30
Champagne Reception
Sponsored by Dovecote Park
For all Pre-Conference Dinner Guests
Venue: North School, Oxford University Examination Schools.
19:30
Pre-Conference Dinner
Venue: Keble College, Oxford.
Wednesday 4th January, 2017
07:30
Morning Prayer
with Jerry Marshall The Arthur Rank Centre
Venue: University College Chapel
07:30
Delegate registration opens
07:45
08:45
Conference Opens
Delegates reminded to take their seats for a prompt 08.55 start.
08:55
Session One - The Politics Briefing
Sponsored by Massey Ferguson
Rt Hon Andrea Leadsom, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
09:30
Panel Discussion
George Eustice MP, Minister of State Defra
Calum Kerr SNP, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Scotland
Lesley Griffiths AM, Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs, Wales
Michelle McIlveen MLA, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland
10:15
Coffee Break
Sponsored by De Lacy Executive
10:45
Frank Parkinson Lecture
Sponsored by The Frank Parkinson Trust
Profiting from sustainability: The coffee case study
Konrad Brits, Founder and CEO of Falcon Coffees
11:15
Questions and Discussion
11:45
The OFC/RASE Science & Innovation Award
Sponsored by Adama
12:05
OFC/DLG Travel Scholar Award
12:15
Lunch
13:30
Session Two - Feeding and Watering the City
Sponsored by M&S
Eating Out – Changing Consumer Trends and What it Means for Farmers
Simon Stenning, Executive Director at MCA
From Field to Restaurant – the View from the Middleman
Sarah Mackie, Food Sourcing Expert
From Field to Restaurant – the view from the Farmer
Guy Watson, Farmer and founder of Riverford
14:50
Questions and Discussion
15:20
Thrive or Survive interactive session
Venue: South School
16:00
Close & Tea
16:00
18:00
Debate at the OXFORD UNION
Sponsored by Birketts, Saffery Champness & Savills
‘This house believes the biggest danger to the family farm is the family itself’
Proposing: Matthew Naylor, Managing Director, Naylors Flowers Ltd
Seconder: Lynsey Martin, Farmer/National Vice Chair for NFYFC
Opposing: Rosey Dunn, Farmer
Seconder: Jack Stilwell, Beef Farmer
Venue: Oxford Union
19:30
22:00
Bar opens
Venue: Christ Church
Thursday 5th January, 2017
07:45
BBSRC Breakfast
Room 10, Oxford University Examination Schools.
08:50
Session Three - After CAP, What? To survive and thrive what policies does GB agriculture need?
Sponsored by Massey Ferguson
George Monbiot, Journalist and Environmental & Political Activist
Dame Helen Ghosh, Director-General of the National Trust
Minette Batters, Deputy President of the NFU
Guy Poskitt, Farmer, M H Poskitt Ltd
09:25
Questions and Discussion
09:55
Coffee Break
Sponsored by Thrings
10:30
Session Four - The World's Your Market
Sponsored by Openfield
Tom Hind, Chief Strategy Officer at the AHDB
How does a farm business exploit a world market
Alison Capper, Farmer & Chairman of the NFU's National Horticulture Board
Potatoes in the Desert
Jack Hamilton, Mash Direct Ltd
11:45
Questions and Discussion
12:25
Lunch
Sponsored by Openfield
13:45
Session Five - Soil Saviours
Sponsored by BBSRC
Saving our soil, what science has to offer
Professor Jane Rickson, Cranfield University
The Soil Renaissance
John Geraghty, Agricultural Consultant
Livestock's vital role in soil regeneration, above and below ground
Wil Armitage, Organic and conventional Dairy Farmer
15:00
Questions and Discussion
15:35
Chairman’s closing remarks
15:45
Close & Tea
19:30
Oxtail Club Dinner
Venue: Worcester College