Political speakers confirmed for OFC26

Emma Reynolds MP, The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will deliver the annual political keynote address at the 2026 Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) before taking questions from the audience.

Hosted in Oxford and online from 7^th to 9^th January 2026, the event is renowned for its political and trade discussions, where many key announcements have shaped the future of agricultural policy and practice.

Following Ms Reynolds’ speech, the audience will hear from Ministers across the devolved nations including:

• Jim Fairlie MSP, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Scottish Government.
• Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Welsh Government.
• Andrew Muir MLA, Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Northern Ireland

OFC, which is also a charity, will celebrate 90 years since the formation of the organisation at the 2026 conference, themed “Growing Resilience”. As early as 1939, political parties have accepted the invitation to speak at the event and engage with the audience.  

Commenting on the sessions, OFC26 Chair Jude McCann said,

“Throughout its history, OFC has always been a place for discussion and debate, aligning with our charitable ethos to “Include, Challenge and Inspire”. Building strong relationships with our political parties has been key to ensuring delegates get the opportunity to engage with our politicians and industry leaders. Many headline moments and key asks from the sector have been attributed to OFC, and I look forward to welcoming our four speakers in January.” 

Tickets for the 2026 conference are on sale. To view the full programme and to book your place, visit www.ofc.org.uk.