Close to 300 delegates have registered for the 2010 Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) which runs from January 4-6, 2010 at the Oxford University Examination Halls.
The conference theme, Rising to the Challenge, will tackle how British farmers can respond to the immense agricultural quandary of feeding a world population of nine billion by 2050 with minimal environmental impact.
Heather Peck, the 2010 OFC chairman, said: “Agriculture faces a huge test which affects every country and race - feeding nine billion with less land, less water, less oil and greater climatic extremes. Science will play an extremely important part in delivering to these challenges, which is why the OFC has commissioned research amongst farmers and the food chain to understand where the food production and grass roots production research should be focused in the future.”
Sponsored by BBSRC and Volac, the research has been split into two areas. Peck added: “The IGD has been engaged to find out what research food businesses would like to see in the future. Plus to ensure that producers’ needs are understood, The National Farm Research Unit has been asked to survey over 600 farmers from all sectors, including fresh produce, to understand where they would like to see research funding focused to support their businesses.”
The science-focused session includes a paper from Professor John Beddington, the Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor and Dr Andrew West, CEO of the innovative New Zealand research business, AgResearch.
Also speaking in the science session will be Fiona Lamotte, managing Ddrector of Scotherbs, one of the biggest supplier of herbs to retailers and restaurants in the UK. Having just completed a Nuffield Scholarship into extending the seasonality of crops grown in the UK, Lamotte will explain how important science and innovation is to this family business.
In the opening session on on January 5, DEFRA secretary of state Hilary Benn will share the stage with his shadow counterpart Nick Herbert and Phil Bloomer, director of Oxfam’s campaigns and policy division.
On the same morning, Dr. Cees Veerman, the highly respected former Dutch minister for agriculture will share a session with John Parker, The Economist’s Globalisation Editor who will update delegates on the economic climate and prospects 18 months into the global recession.
Other highlights include addresses from Grant Gordon, director general of the Institute of Family Business and Dr Matt Lobley of Exeter University.
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