The Oxford Farming Conference

The Oxford Farming Conference The Oxford Farming Conference is held every January, in-person and with online options.

Have you heard? 🎧 Dr Louise Manning's OFC 2026 Report - UK Farming: Grasping the Opportunity - is available for just ove...
01/06/2026

Have you heard? 🎧 Dr Louise Manning's OFC 2026 Report - UK Farming: Grasping the Opportunity - is available for just over an hour's listen.

🗣️ This thought-provoking podcast features the report's author Dr Louise Manning, Worcestershire-based hop and apple farmer and former director of the Oxford Farming Conference Ali Capper, agri and rural consultant George Collison, and Nicola Shadbolt, a New Zealand-based farmer and professor in farm and agribusiness management.

🎙️ For the podcast see 👉 https://bit.ly/4vl4LWP

If you listen and decide to try the Business and Personal Assessment Tool you can find it here: https://bit.ly/4uSB67J

🤝 Ever considered partnering with OFC?🗣️ OFC provides a platform, right at the start of the year, for discussion, inspi...
27/05/2026

🤝 Ever considered partnering with OFC?

🗣️ OFC provides a platform, right at the start of the year, for discussion, inspiration and new ways of thinking. The 2027 conference will focus on building a confident, collaborative, and resilient food and farming sector - working in greater harmony.

💡 There are many threads that shape our industry: the people and relationships; land use and the environment; global trade and policies; technology and the science that underpins it. It will champion the ambition to be bold: to question how we think and work, to seek positive change across our industry, and to work more closely together in greater harmony.

We are inviting partners to play their part in the 2027 conference by offering a range of packages which in turn provide good value for investment, and a return on brands.

For full details please see here: https://bit.ly/3RsewUM

What does the future of British agriculture look like to you, how would you shape its progression and what are the key p...
26/05/2026

What does the future of British agriculture look like to you, how would you shape its progression and what are the key players influencing how the future unfolds?

UK Agriculture: Grasping the opportunities is a report supported by a generous donation from the Frank Parkinson Agricultural Trust. It was written and published by Dr Louise Manning, who explained in detail, after thorough research with 25 structured discussions with UK and global agri-leaders, how she envisages UK agriculture unfolding, with the assistance of interventions that will support thriving agricultural businesses, and the ability for famers to actively seek emerging opportunities.

The Report was unveiled at the Oxford Farming Conference in January 2026, and can be accessed here: https://www.ofc.org.uk/2026-ofc-report

We promise you an encouraging read.

This week the OFC Directors and conference events team gathered in Galloway, Scotland, the home county of our OFC27 Chai...
22/05/2026

This week the OFC Directors and conference events team gathered in Galloway, Scotland, the home county of our OFC27 Chair, Sheena Horner.

The annual Chair’s Days Away is an opportunity to share ideas, visit agricultural and rural businesses, hear from other events, and discuss developments and plans for the conference.

The visits included food, hospitality and farming businesses, discussed global and international trade, challenges of rural living and business, and met with the organises of Wigtown Book Festival, a ten day festival hosted in Scotland's National Book Town, welcoming over 20,000 visitors.

We are busy working on the programme and speakers for OFC27, so this is always an important time to gather thoughts and ensure we continue to deliver a conference that is relevant for all who attend. Watch this space!

Big thanks to everyone who hosted the group, and to David Hill for the photos.

🗣️ Big news! We’re thrilled to welcome Ben Makowiecki to the board of the Oxford Farming Conference 🎉 Ben joins us from ...
21/04/2026

🗣️ Big news! We’re thrilled to welcome Ben Makowiecki to the board of the Oxford Farming Conference 🎉

Ben joins us from Lloyds, where he’s Agricultural Sustainability Director, bringing over 25 years of experience in farm business consultancy and agricultural banking.

💬 Ben says: “The Oxford Farming Conference is one of the UK’s most renowned agricultural events, and I’ve long admired the work behind its rich and inspiring agenda. Each year, global speakers challenge our thinking, spark collaboration, and drive meaningful change. I’m excited to play a part in shaping the next three conferences and continuing a 90-year legacy.”

We can’t wait to officially welcome you to the board at the end of April, Ben, as we gear up for (6–8 January) "Harmony" 🤝—and we’re already excited for what’s to come!

Find out more about Ben here - https://www.ofc.org.uk/blog/agricultural-sustainability-director-lloyds-joins-ofc

Author of the Oxford Farming Conference 2026 paper 'UK Farming; grasping the opportunities', Dr Louise Manning PhD joine...
31/03/2026

Author of the Oxford Farming Conference 2026 paper 'UK Farming; grasping the opportunities', Dr Louise Manning PhD joined Pasture Bedtime recently, to dissect her research and put forward her ideas on how to find solutions to some of the challenges faced by British farmers today.

Tune in and join their conversation by visiting https://bit.ly/418nwzV.

Big thanks to Pasture Bedtime for welcoming Louise.

25/03/2026

In an age of accurate weather forecasting, seed variety development, technology and internet connection advancement, and increased access to quality education - how do we see the future of farming? 🌱

🗣 In this 15-minute session the panel of speakers - Jack Bobo, Laura Lukasik and Mike Rivington - succinctly shared their visions and addressed questions from the audience.

🎥 https://www.ofc.org.uk/video/future-farming-qa

📣 Building resilience and growth in the rural economy - how do we develop change, what works, what doesn’t work? 🗣 Duri...
25/03/2026

📣 Building resilience and growth in the rural economy - how do we develop change, what works, what doesn’t work?

🗣 During this session we heard from Frontier Agriculture and Defra about the science behind policy decisions, policy implementation goals, funding opportunities for farmers, working with communities for positive change, and more.

🎥 Full session here:
https://www.ofc.org.uk/video/building-resilience-and-growth-rural-economy

Richard Palmer is Managing Director at Willisbrook Orchards. His family has a nearly 200-year history of farming in New ...
24/03/2026

Richard Palmer is Managing Director at Willisbrook Orchards. His family has a nearly 200-year history of farming in New Zealand, evolving the enterprises into what is now a grape, apple and kiwi fruit-growing business.

🥝 The Kiwi Fruit Marketing Board helped to achieve finance and government backing and restructured the kiwi fruit market so it was seen as high value, after challenging years, creating the Zespri brand which supports growers and their communities, with professional guidance and marketing.

🎤 Richard talked us through the fascinating journey of New Zealand kiwi fruit farming and marketing during this session:
🎥 https://www.ofc.org.uk/video/richard-palmer

🎤 How do we raise the profile of British food and drink? ❓ How do we stay competitive when European farm support payment...
23/03/2026

🎤 How do we raise the profile of British food and drink?
❓ How do we stay competitive when European farm support payments differ to ours?
🙋 How much do we want to produce domestically and how much do we want to import?
👉 What do we actually mean by "food security"?

🗣 Experts on the subject of food and drink trade from Euro Quality Lambs, the NFU - National Farmers' Union, EFRA Select Committee and the Scotch Whisky Association answered these questions and explored how we trade with other countries without undermining British standards. They also offered insights into how we move forward with food and drink trade in and out of the UK.

An insightful session, here: https://www.ofc.org.uk/video/growing-trade-resilience-panel-discussion

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