Sustainable food and farming is set to gain traction with the Soil Association leading debates on how to make diets less ultra-processed and reduce reliance on glyphosate in farming, at the Oxford Real Farming Conference.

 
Entering its 17th season, the two-day conference will see Soil Association's academic, policy and farming experts sharing insights on exciting projects. 
 
These will range from how technology and AI is advancing the understanding of soil health at large scales, to the farmers using “dual purpose” poultry breeds to produce both meat and eggs in a more ethical way.
 
Celebrity chef and environmental campaigner, Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall will join a Soil Association session on ultra-processed foods to provide his expertise on how the agroecology movement should react to the decline of plant-based foods.
 
 * Soil Association Head of Farming Kate Still said:  * “As programme partners of ORFC 2026, the Soil Association is proud to help unite farmers and policy makers to explore nature friendly farming, debate glyphosate, and champion ethical, high welfare practices.
 
“Guided by our mission to transform the way we eat, farm, and care for the natural world, this event is always a brilliant chance to advance organic and agroecological solutions that connect people, animals, and soils.”
 
 
 * Soil Association sessions at ORFC *
 
 * Day one, Thursday 8 January *
 
 
 * Resistance and Renewal: A Debate on Glyphosate *
 
11am – 12.20pm, Catholic Chaplaincy — Newman Room (Livestreamed)
 
 * Speakers:  * Georgie Bray (RSPB Hope Farm, Farm Manager), Martin Lines (Nature Friendly Farming Network, CEO), Michael Antoniou (King’s College London, Professor in Molecular Genetics), Nick Mole (Pesticide Action Network, Policy Officer) 
 
 * Chair:  * Helen Browning (Soil Association, Chief Executive)
 
One of the most widely used pesticides, glyphosate, in harvesting is the hot topic of debate after people are increasingly becoming aware of its negative impact on the environment and human health. With the UK negotiating a trade agreement with the EU on pesticide regulation, Chief Executive, Helen Browning, will be leading the conversation on the future of glyphosate.
 
 
 * Home Grown Organics: Balancing Supply and Demand *
 
11am – 12.20pm, Oxford Town Hall – Court Room
 
 * Speakers:  * John Taylor (Polybell Farms, Farms Director), Lee Holdstock (Soil Association Certification, Head of Regulatory and Trade Affairs), Adam Westaway (Philham Farm, organic dairy farmer)
 
 * Chair:  * Katrin Hochber (Soil Association, Farming Director)
 
Panellists with 20+ years of experience, supplying organic vegetables and dairy and supporting the organic sector will discuss the opportunities for more UK organic production, how to best support conversion increased production without undermining current organic producers. They’ll reflect candidly on the ups and downs of the organic market over many years.
 
 * Natural Treatments for Flystrike in Sheep *
 
11am – 12.20pm, Jesus College Cheng Building — Seminar Room
 
 * Speakers:  * Lynnie Hutchison (Brickpits Organic Farm, organic mixed farmer), Lindsay Whistance (Organic Research Centre, Livestock Researcher)
 
 * Chair: *  Chris Aukland (Holistic Lifepath, Veterinary Surgeon)This session shares results from an Innovative Farmers *   * field lab on natural flystrike prevention and treatment. The trial covered fly species and lifecycle across three stages: boosting livestock vitality, prevention, and natural treatments. Focusing on farmer experiences, the session will explore the environmental impact of the trial and consider the potential for future research. 
 
 * Updates from the Frontier of Soil Science *
 
2pm – 3.20pm, Town Hall — Assembly Room
 * Speakers:  * Alex Park (Biofonic, Founder & CEO), Joe Collins (Earth Rover Programme, Senior Research Associate), Josiah Judson (Soil Association, Soil Scientist and Farming Advisor)
 
 * Chair: *  Harriet Bell (Soil Association, Senior Policy Officer)
 
Three speakers will present work from the forefront of how technology and AI are helping them map, monitor and understand soil in ways, and at scales, they’ve never been able to do before. Between Biofonic, The Earth Rover Program and AI4SoilHealth the speakers will explore acoustic monitoring of below ground biology and whether it’s possible to map likely future soil health, in different parts of the world, based on farm practices today.  
 
 * Digital Hub Time to Get Drastic on Food System Plastics? *
 
4pm – 5.20pm, Jesus College Cheng Building
 
 * Speakers:  * Joe Yates (Agriculture Nutrition & Health Science Policy Platform, Co-director), Jo Banner (The Descendants Project, Founder), Bryce Cunningham (Mossgiel Organic Dairy, Founder), Jennifer Clapp *   * (University of Waterloo, Professor & Canada Research Chair)
 * Chair:  * Hannah Blitzer *   * (Soil Association, Senior Policy Officer)Food systems are driving global plastic pollution while suffering from its effects. Used extensively from farm to fork, plastics are deeply embedded in modern agriculture and food supply. This session convenes the voices of those grappling with this challenge, including frontline communities, farmers and scientists, to discuss why the entire plastics lifecycle, deserves the close attention of the agroecological community.
 
 
 
 * Day two, Friday 9 January *
 
 
 * Rethinking Chicken: Dual-Purpose Poultry in Practice *
 
11am – 12.20am, Oxford Town Hall — Council Chamber
 
 * Speakers:  * Mike Mallett (Maple Farm Kelsale, Manager), Annie Rayner (Planton Farm, Co-founder), Zoë Davis (Carter Cookery, Founder)
 
 * Chair:  * Sam Packer (Soil Association, Field Lab Co-ordinator)
 
Diverse and local bred chickens were once used for both high quality egg and meat production, but as farms specialised so did the chickens. Hear from farmers at the forefront in trialling dual-purpose poultry systems on how they’re seeking ways to reverse the negative environmental impacts of unethical practices like male-chick culling.
 
 
 * The Demise of Plant-Based Foods: Cause for Celebration or Concern? *
 
11am – 12.20pm, Story Museum — Woodshed (Livestreamed)
 
 * Speakers:  * Amy Williams (The Good Food Institute Europe, Nutrition Lead), Nikki Yoxall (Pasture for Life, Technical Director), Rebecca Tobi (Food Foundation, Head of Food Business Transformation), TV Chef Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall 
 
 * Chair:  * Rob Percival (Soil Association, Head of Food Policy)
 
In recent years, sales of plant-based alternatives to meat have fallen sharply, and investment in the plant-based sector has reduced. This decline might represent a victory for industrial, low welfare meat. Some consumers have rejected these products as ultra-processed, while continuing to eat ultra-processed animal foods. this debate will explore how the agroecology movement should react. Celebrity chef and environmental campaigner, Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall, widely known for his commitment to seasonal, ethically produced food will share his insights.
 
 
 
 * Soil Association’s additional events taking place around the two-day programme *
 
 * Wednesday 7 January *
 
The Power of Partnership: Connecting, Farmers, Food Businesses and Funders 
 
6.00pm – 7.20pm, Thatched Barn, Christ Church
 
Join Soil Association Exchange and Lloyds Bank in Oxford during the Oxford Farming Conference for an afternoon bringing together leaders from across the food and farming sector to turn data into real impact.
 
 
 * Thursday 8 January *
 
Food & Farming Futures ORFC 2026 - a Networking Hour for Emerging Leaders & Sector Supporters 
 
6.00pm – 7.20pm, Catholic Chaplaincy — Newman Room
 
Continuing one of the most popular sessions at last year’s Oxford Real Farming Conference , this networking hour will bring together generations, sectors, and interests in a diverse, inclusive, informal space. Soil Association , Sustain , Roots to Work  and Emergent Generation have invited friends and partners to engage in this evening of intergenerational knowledge sharing.
 
 
To find out more or to book ORFC 2026 tickets visit the Oxford Real Farming Conference website.