Two simultaneous farming conferences in Oxford

Added on 03 February 2023

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Two simultaneous farming conferences in Oxford

Over the same three chilly days in early January, two farming conferences happen simultaneously in Oxford: the Oxford Farming Conference, and the Oxford Real Farming Conference. While this might seem like a silly mistake or lapse in communication between the two events, it is actually deeply intentional.

The Oxford Real Farming Conference was started fourteen years ago to provide “a much-needed alternative” to the Oxford Farming Conference. This overlap sends a message: you’re either with them, or you’re with us.

I am not a big fan of picking sides, and always like to listen to both parties before casting judgement, so this year I decided to attend both. I wanted to see first hand what the differences were and ask the question: in a world that is becoming increasingly polarised, do we really need to be pitting farmers against each other?

This might seem a little dramatic, but walking around wearing both my OFC and ORFC badges turned some heads and started more than a few conversations. It was made clear it’s not often people come with a foot in each camp. However, as a newcomer to both, what I found in 2023 was two conferences with aligned goals and a lot they could offer each other. Both conferences fiercely advocated for regenerative agricultural practices, improved protection from supply chain actors, better engagement with the communities they serve, and emphasised the need for innovation. To illustrate their point, they have devised a quick game: Guess Which Conference?

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Photo created by Vadim Sherbakov - Unsplash