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December 6, 2024

Join the largest annual gathering of the Real Farming movement this January

Join the largest annual gathering of the Real Farming movement this January

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

ORFC attracts farmers, growers, activists, policymakers and researchers from around the world who are interested in transforming our food system.

In January 2010, ORFC was launched as a place to share progressive ideas in farming. The conference delves deep into farming practices and techniques as well as addressing the bigger questions relating to our food and farming system. Subjects include agroecology, regenerative agriculture, organic farming and indigenous food and farming systems.

At ORFC 2025 you’ll find the following themes:

FARM PRACTICE: There’ll be lots of great take-home advice, deep dives into the success and challenges of individual farms, and practical discussions on topics such as natural flood management, activating soil enzymes, pest control, and biodiversity and livestock.

FOOD AND FARM POLICY: Sessions will look at all facets of the just transition: from creative ways to fund it, to moving beyond intensive livestock; and for discussions on public farmland, pesticide policies, ecocide law, agri-misinformation in elections, ELMs, and more.

JUSTICE STRAND: The Justice Strand invites those from marginal perspectives to connect, share knowledge and empower each other. Sessions centre on equity, solidarity and collaboration and explore topics such as: land access, reparations, neurodiversity, workers’ rights and anti-oppression.

LANDWORKERS ALLIANCE AND LA VIA CAMPESINA: This will bring together landworkers, young people, trade unionists, and activists from the UK and internationally to explore what it means to be a social movement and why building a social movement is key to achieving agroecology.

LISTENING TO THE LAND: What does it mean to have a more reciprocal relationship with nature and how might this support the transformation of our food and farming system? Sessions will explore traditional or indigenous knowledge systems and farming practices based on an intuitive relationship with the land.

YOUTH: There will be space for youth movement collaboration, intergenerational discussions, art exhibitions, and relaxed networking before an evening drinks where newcomers passionate about the politics and practice of food and farming will have a chance to meet movement leaders.

ORFC brings the grassroots movement together to lead the way towards a fairer food and farming system in the UK and beyond. 45+ sessions will be livestreamed from Oxford.

Online tickets are still available here.

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by The Country Smallholder

The Country Smallholder is aimed at the ever-increasing UK audience interested in living a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable way of life. From people already living on a smallholding, to allotment owners; from those with a couple of acres of land, to those aspiring to get more out of their garden or even window box. With 73% of UK residents claiming to want to live more sustainably post Covid, The Country Smallholder has something for everyone.

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