Oxford Real Farming Conference 2026

Working with partners in the UK and internationally, the Oxford Real Farming Conference (ORFC) brings the real food and farming movement together every January.

ORFC has always been the place to share progressive ideas. Subjects include agroecology, regenerative agriculture, organic farming and indigenous food and farming systems. The broad programme delves deep into farming practices and techniques as well as addressing the bigger questions relating to our food and farming system. Every year the conference welcomes over 1,800 delegates, from farmers and growers to activists and policymakers from all around the world, who are interested in transforming our food system.

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Programme

ORFC 2026
8th January
Find out more
ORFC 2026
9th January
Find out more

ORFC 2026
8th January

11:00 – 12:20

Water is life: Helping clean and care for it

This session will be looking at challenges with water quality, quantity and revitalisation, landscape hydration, watercourse viability and aquatic biodiversity, managing sustainable on-farm water systems, and exploring catchment work and community to help nature with local rivers and streams.

SFT CEO, Patrick Holden, will be one of the speakers on this panel.

Other speakers include: Simon Charter (educator and Director of Ebb & Flow Ltd.), Nigel Akehurst (livestock farmer and journalist), Dan Turner (Lead for Land Management & Market Creation at The Rivers Trust), Minni Jain (Director of the Flow Partnership); this session will be chaired by Gabriel Kaye (Founder of the Biodynamic Land Trust).

Location: Town Hall, Council Chamber

14:00 – 15:20

Working with wool: Demonstration and skill sharing (workshop)

This popular workshop is back for another year, showcasing the beauty and
versatility of wool — introducing ORFC attendees to new skills, whilst highlighting the role of sheep and wool in sustainable farming systems.

This is an informal drop-in space where you can hear about different ways to process and use wool and try your hand at a range of crafts such as carding, spinning, weaving, knitting, felting and more. Or if you have a skill to demo then bring your craft along! All abilities are welcome.

SFT’s Head of Policy & Campaigns, Megan Perry, will be one of the facilitators running this workshop.

Other facilitators include: Ria Burns (knitwear designer-maker), Jen Hunter (regenerative eco-farmer), Julie Baber (farmer and freelance writer), Rebecca Hazell and Vera Hoenen (shepherd, spinner and weaver).

Location: Town Hall, Main Hall

14:00 – 15:20

Building an abattoir: Farmers at the forefront

Faced with continuing smaller abattoir closures some farmers have been taking matters into their own hands, embarking on the journey of building an abattoir – this session will cover all that entails, the good, the bad and the ugly!

Speakers will share more about projects they’re involved in, including a micro sheep slaughter unit on Orkney, an on-farm abattoir in Devon, a small abattoir on the isles of Scilly, the North Cotswold Abattoir group whose ambitious plans include an abattoir, butchery school, retail business and more, as well as new technology which being used to support innovative small abattoirs.

SFT’s Head of Policy & Campaigns, Megan Perry, was involved in coordinating this session.

Speakers include: Andy Gray (regenerative Farmer and Chairman of M C Kelly Ltd.), Jane Cooper (author and sheep farmer), Claire White (Senior Veterinary Adviser for the NFU) and Ben Hatton (Sales & Key Account Manager at TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods); this session will be chaired by Adrian Steele (Organic Sector Development Adviser at Soil Association and co-chair of the English Organic Forum).

Location: St Columba’s United Reformed Church, Hall

14:00 – 15:20

Funding small farm futures

Small farms that work with nature and serve local communities are disappearing, despite delivering vital public goods. As costs rise and support shifts, how can we reverse this trend? This session will rethink financial structures – from market premiums to public money – and explore how we can shift value and power back to producers, ensuring small farms are those with a future, not just a legacy.

SFT CEO, Patrick Holden, will chair this session.

Speakers include: India Hamilton (food systems specialist and Founder of HYPHA Consulting) Edward Morgan (Group ESG Manager at Castell Howell Foods), Georgina Grimes (Head of Responsible Business at Yeo Valley) and Teresa Allward (organic dairy & beef farmer).

Location: Town Hall, Court Room