OFC Reports

The OFC reports over the years

The Oxford Farming Conference has produced written and video reports over recent years, some years, the Directors choose to do a report, and in other years, not. Listed below are the reports that have been produced, covering a very wide range of topics.

2026 OFC Report

The 2026 Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) report, UK Agriculture: Grasping the Opportunities, authored by Dr Louise Manning is kindly supported by a generous donation from the Frank Parkinson Agricultural Trust. It calls for urgent action to reshape UK farming into a confident, mission-led and opportunity-driven sector. Drawing on insights from 25 leaders and disruptors across the agrifood system, the report challenges policymakers, industry and farmers alike to embrace change, build resilience, and invest in people, technology and innovation. As Dr Manning notes, “Change is not optional. The UK farming sector has reinvented itself many times before – it can, and must, do so again.” The executive summary, full report and press release can all be found here. And a special episode of the OFC Podcast can be accessed here.

Previous OFC reports

2024 Report - Is the UK Food Supply Chain Broken?

A report launched at the 2024 Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) firmly states that the practice of farmers subsidising consumers’ appetite for cheap food cannot continue. After years of ‘permacrisis’ fuelled by Brexit, the Ukrainian conflict, the Covid-19 pandemic and inflation running up to 20%, farming’s confidence and bank balances are at an all-time, unsustainable, low, says the report’s author, Ged Futter.

The report – Is the UK Food Supply Chain Broken? – is based on over 40 interviews with business owners across fresh produce, eggs, poultry, pork, importers, frozen food manufacturers and various consultants. It is kindly sponsored by Horwich Farrelly.

Press release: here

2023 Report - Supply Chain Synergies

The 2023 Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) - Supply Chain Synergies – What is the appropriate role of supply chains in achieving responsible production at farm level? – was authored by Lesley Mitchell, Forum for the Future's Associate Director for Sustainable Nutrition, in partnership with the OFC, Savills and WWF. It pointedly calls for fairness, net zero cost-sharing and the recalibration of value-sharing throughout the UK’s food supply chain.

In research, including a series of 30 interviews conducted across the food production landscape, the report centred the barriers to supply chain transformation, identifying pathways to change, and outlining how both voluntary food sector action, as well as policy, could enable these ambitions.

Press release OFC 2023 Report - launch release.docx

Full Report OFC and Forum Report for OFC 2023.pdf

2022 Reports - Part 1 and Part 2 Natural capital - the battle for control and the opportunities of agri-carbon markets

Author: The Green Alliance.

Partners: WWF, Green Alliance, Manchester University, WWF.

Press release: FINAL_OFC 2022 Report - launch release.docx

Reports: Natural_capital_the_battle_for_control.pdf

The_opportunities_of_agri-carbon_markets_full_report.pdf

2020 Report - mental health

2016 Report - Entrepreneurship - a kiss of life for the UK farming sector?

Sponsored by: Burges Salmon.

Author: Graham Redman, Partner, The Andersons Centre and the Bettany Centre for Entrepreneurship, Cranfield.