The Oxford Farming Conference

This event is only for the 2024 OFC Inspire Cohort, and will run from 12:00 to 13:30 at the Examination Schools, Room 11.

The biggest challenge facing today’s society is building resilience in the face of a continuously changing climate. Farmers are facing the brunt of extreme weather events and global warming could cause a 30% reduction in food production worldwide. This does not change the fact that an ever-growing population needs to be fed and we must find ways to build a more resilient food production system.

Join BASF at the Oxford Natural History Museum for OFC's first partner session of 2024 - a panel session hearing from farmers trialling novel interventions to tackle the effects of climate change and hear a global perspective of the agriculture industry as we look to future proof our food security and care for the natural environment. In keeping with the conference theme of diversity, speakers will share unique insights from different locations, soil types and farming philosophies.

Joining the panel will be:

•    Mary Boote, Chief Executive Officer, Global Farmer Network
•    William Pitts, second generation farmer in Mears Ashby Northamptonshire & founder of Project Fortress, farming on handslope clay
•    Hannah Darby, forth generation farmer near Huntingdon, farming primarily on the Fen with black organic soil
•    Martin Andersson, eight generation farmer, farming a wide rotation in Skåne, Sweden

This session will run from 17:00 to 19:00 at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History followed by an opportunity to network with panellists and guests. Refreshments will be provided.

There are limited tickets for this session so we encourage pre-booking. If you have already booked your main conference ticket, log back in to your ticket and add this to your booking via your member portal. Click here to amend booking.

OFC24 Chairman, Will Evans, officially opens the conference during this special reception at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History. A complimentary drink and light nibbles will be available and, for 2024, this event is included in the conference ticket.

This reception is included in your main conference ticket, but space is limited so we do ask that you book a place. If you have already booked your main conference ticket, there is an option to log back in and add this to your booking via your member portal. A link can also be found in your booking confirmation.

This event will run from 19:00 to 20:00

A gentle run enjoying some of the streets of OFC, with runners meeting at the entrance of the Examination Schools. Led by Projects Director Adam Bedford and OFC Director Sheena Horner.

Hosted at the University College Chapel from 7:30 to 8:00

Come and hear about the latest developments in agricultural innovation from the Agri-Tech Centres’ expert team. To be held in Room 11. 

There are limited tickets for this session so we encourage pre-booking. If you have already booked your main conference ticket, log back in to your ticket and add this to your booking via your member portal. Click here to amend booking.

As we face the challenges of climate change and growing crops that are healthier, environmentally friendlier and profitable, can we sustainably intensify the way we produce food? The technologies and strategies behind regenerative farming stand at the intersection of these challenges. But there is a need to provide the science to scale-up and underpin its credibility. To be held in Room 9.

This session will discuss NIAB’s vision of regenerative farming; that it shares with sustainable intensification and precision agriculture the aim of optimising productivity – producing more from less – while at the same time protecting and improving the condition of the land and surrounding environment.

Speakers:   

• Professor Mario Caccamo – CEO, NIAB  
• Dr Elizabeth Stockdale, Head of Farming Systems, NIAB  
• Dr Juno McKee, Director of Ventures, NIAB  
• TBC - Antony Yousefian, VP Climate and Circularity, Wilmot

There are limited tickets for this session so we encourage pre-booking. If you have already booked your main conference ticket, log back into your ticket and add this to your booking via your member portal. Click here to amend booking.

OFC24 Chairman Will Evans opens the conference. Please note, that doors to the main auditorium will close promptly and not open again until the break, so please try to be seated by 9am. Our business lounge is open for anyone who arrives after the doors have closed and hosts a live stream. This area can also be used for anyone who wishes to work while the conference is running. South an East Schools.

The afternoon conference will commence promptly at 14:00 - South and East Schools. 

An international and UK perspective. Speakers: Dr Diana Onyango, Head of Technical Team at Farm Africa and Andy Cato, Co-founder at Wildfarmed.

Sarah Dunning OBE, Chair of Westmorland Limited, shares her family story of innovation and inspiration, in this session titled "Westmorland Family - A Story of Rural Diversification"

Explore the future of sustainable agriculture with Map of Ag and their panel of speakers, featuring Jonathan Lane, Managing Director for ADM Agriculture, and Hugh Martineau, Technical Director of Sustainability. Facilitating this enlightening discussion is Anna Powell, Consultant at Map of Ag.  

Johnathan will discuss his experiences, including the challenges and opportunities presented, in engaging farmers to deliver a joint impact. Together, they will explore approaches to regenerative farming and their measurement and reporting. This session is your gateway to a more resilient, regenerative agricultural landscape.

There are limited tickets for this session so we encourage pre-booking. If you have already booked your main conference ticket, log back in to your ticket and add this to your booking via your member portal. Click here to amend booking.

Join the Woodland Trust and the Nature Friendly Farming Network, for breakfast and a lively discussion on how landscape diversity will need to be a key component of a healthy, functioning farming sector in 2050. Building on the conference theme of ‘The Power of Diversity’ explore how nature-based solutions can help ensure that by 2050 we will have farming systems that deliver healthy food, a healthy environment, and a healthy society.  

Whether through agroforestry delivering environmental services and product diversity, or min tillage enhancing soil health this session will have a panel of practitioners who will share their experiences and inspire you to act

Chair:

• Sarah Langford confirmed  

Panel:   

• Martin Lines Arable Farmer & CEO NFFN
• John Pawsey Organic Farmer
• Claire Whittle – Regen Vet
• Sam Beaumont – Livestock Farmer and NFFN Champion

There are limited tickets for this session so we encourage pre-booking. If you have already booked your main conference ticket, log back in to your ticket and add this to your booking via your member portal. Click here to amend booking.

The need for improved faming productivity together with the focus on environmental and net zero issues put great pressure of rural land, its use and occupation.  Agricultural tenancies, business arrangements and, indeed, land ownership are all under stress.  This session will look at some of the issues and ways forward.   

Speakers: 

• Jeremy Moody, Secretary and Adviser to the CAAV

There are limited tickets for this session so we encourage pre-booking. If you have already booked your main conference ticket, log back in to your ticket and add this to your booking via your member portal. Click here to amend booking.

OFC24 Chairman Will Evans opens the final day of the conference. Please note, that doors to the main auditorium will close promptly and not open again until the break, so please try to be seated by 9am. Our business lounge is open for anyone who arrives after the doors have closed and hosts a live stream. This area can also be used for anyone who wishes to work while the conference is running.

With Bella Bathurst, Writer and Photo Journalist

Diversity of work patterns and benefits, skill sets, nationalities and geographical locations, to name a few topics, brings this Question Time style session to life. Panel: Prof. Ken Sloan, Vice-Chancellor at Harper Adams University, Donna Edmonds, CEO of the Education Farms, Rory Christie, Dairy Farmer, Vice Chair SAOS, Amie Burke, Inclusivity Programme Manager, Institute of Grocery Distribution and Nick Evans, Founder of First4Farmig and co-founder of Oxbury.

One of our most popular sessions each year. Speakers: Doug Wanstall, Farmer, Polly Davies, Mixed Organic Tenant Farmer and AHDB Cereals and Oilseeds Sector Council Member and David Mwanaka, Farmer and founder of Mwanaka Fresh Farm Foods.

OFC24 Chairman Will Evans reflects on the conference and introduces the 2025 Chairman.