The Oxford Farming Conference

Tuesday 7th January, 2020

09:00
Registration Opens - Main Entrance
12:00
RSA/AgRespect working lunch

North School

Sponsored by The RSA

12:45
OFC AGM

Room 7

13:00
Emerging Leaders Workshop

Sponsored by BASF

13:00
NFU Next Generation and AHDB (on behalf of the Skills Leadership Group) - “Future of Skills”

South School

13:00
OFC Scholar’s Session

Sponsored by McDonald's

14:00
Sainsbury's Fringe - Our vision for British agriculture

Sainsbury's, one of the biggest customers for British agriculture, share the vision and look at the balance between delivering affordable, healthy food and supporting a profitable and progressive farming industry. 

East School

15:00
Fringe Events Session One

A range of drop-in talks focusing on knowledge exchange with industry leaders.

  • Syngenta - Food, Foresight and the Future of Farming - Room 9  
    • Do we need a food production revolution? We are currently facing immense challenges in food production but it is not all doom and gloom – new technologies are on the horizon.
  • SoilEssentials - Using data in an instinctive intelligent and integrated manner - Room 11
    • Has the agricultural sector used data intelligently? How can farm and remotely collected data be used more effectively for the supply chain, the environment and the bottom line?
15:00
UKRI Innovation Hub - Session One

An exciting opportunity to get up-close with the latest agricultural research from around the country. Learn about UKRI’s investment in world-class research and innovation, and how it’s helping to grow our society.

With the opportunity to meet Professor Melanie Welham, BBSRC, Executive Chair and researchers from across the country who will be showcasing the impacts and benefits their work is having on agriculture.

Room 14/15.

Sponsored by UKRI

15:45
Tea / Coffee
16:00
Fringe Events Session Two

A range of drop-in talks focusing on knowledge exchange with industry leaders.

  • AgSpace Fringe - Increasing profit is easy. Are you getting your share? - Room 9
    • AgSpace is the digital arm of focused agri-services group Origin Enterprises, and deliver market-leading digital solutions to agri-businesses, to help their customers make more informed decisions.
  • Map of Ag Fringe - Redressing Consumer Opinion - Room 11
    • Are we going to let interest groups dictate the agenda or will we allow farm data to relay the facts? Map of Ag. sets out to share its vision for telling the truth through factual data based evidence.
16:00
UKRI Innovation Hub - Session Two

An exciting opportunity to get up-close with the latest agricultural research from around the country. Learn about UKRI’s investment in world-class research and innovation, and how it’s helping to grow our society.

With the opportunity to meet Professor Melanie Welham, BBSRC, Executive Chair and researchers from across the country who will be showcasing the impacts and benefits their work is having on agriculture.

Room 14/15.

Sponsored by UKRI

17:00
Innovative Farmers' Event - Great Wine Debate

Join the Great Wine Debate to taste and discuss all things wine.

The event is open to all and timed to fit alongside both Oxford Farming and Oxford Real Farming Conferences. It will be held in St Edmund Hall, a 7-minute walk from Oxford Town Hall, 2 minutes from the Examination Schools. It is free to attend but please book your place when you are booking your ticket. 

17:15
Ashmolean Lecture and Exhibition “Dining in Pompeii”

Ashmolean Museum

TO REGISTER PLEASE CLICK HERE (separate booking link to the main OFC conference)

18:30
The UPL OFC Drinks Reception

South School 

Sponsored by UPL

20:00
The UPL OFC Best of British Dinner

North School

Sponsored by UPL

20:00
The Syngenta OFC Social

The University Club 

Sponsored by Syngenta

Wednesday 8th January, 2020

07:30
Barclays Bank Breakfast

Join us for coffee and a breakfast roll at our Barclays Bank networking event. 

09:30
Politics Briefing

The headlining political briefing - followed by a panel session.

With:

Sponsored by Fendt

Register to watch the live stream HERE

10:45
Tea / Coffee
11:30
The UK's Food Strategy

Moderator: Evan Davis, BBC Presenter

Panel:

  • Henry Dimbleby
  • Denise Bentley
  • John Shropshire
  • Ian Mitchell
  • Roger Whiteside

Register to watch the live stream HERE

12:30
Lunch
13:45
The OFC Science Lecture

Alice Stanton

Sponsored by SellMyLivestock, part of Hectare Agritech

Register to watch the live stream HERE

14:30
Breakout Sessions

Sponsored by Sainsbury’s

15:15
Tea / Coffee
16:00
Breakout Sessions Repeat
16:00
OFC Scholar's Session
18:30
The OFC Oxford Union Debate

The motion: "This House believes cheap food is worth the price."

Proposing - David Walston and Andrew Fearne

Opposing - Baroness Rosie Boycott & Vicki Hird

The Oxford Union

Sponsored by Savills, Thrings and Ellacotts 

19:30
The OFC Post-Debate Supper

Christ Church

Sponsored by Savills, Thrings and Ellacotts

Thursday 9th January, 2020

07:00
Farmers’ Seated Yoga and Mindfulness

Stretch away the previous evening with this guided yoga class in the East School.

07:00
The OFC Runners

From the Examination Schools’ Front Entrance

07:30
The Prince's Countryside Fund Breakfast

Join us for coffee and a breakfast roll at our Prince's Countryside Fund networking event.

08:45
Food and Faith

The relationship between farming and faith.

Held in the South School

09:35
The Frank Parkinson Lecture - Poran Malani

Brand building of UK agriculture

Poran Malani

Sponsored by the Frank Parkinson Agricultural Trust

10:30
Tea / Coffee
11:15
Inspiring Farmers Session

Hear from a range of inspiring farmers who share an insight into their businesses and personal challenges.

Sponsored by Kubota 

12:30
Eden Search OFC Conference Lunch

Sponsored by Eden Search

13:45
The OFC report into mental health
14:00
The Power of Food in Society

Kamal Mouzawak, Souk el Tayeb

interviewed by Henry Dimbleby

Sponsored by Eden Search 

15:15
Conferences Closes
19:30
Oxtail Dinner