NEW BLOG: Why does global #pesticide use keep rising, even as #regenerativefarming gains attention?

After #ORFC, Mark Davis explores the risks to people and the environment and what’s needed to support safer farming systems.

Read the full blog: edin.ac/3Z83S68

Reflections from Oxford Real Farming Conference 2026 - Better Food Traders Now that we've had a few days to catch our breath after the Oxford Real Farming Conference (ORFC), we wanted to share some reflections on the event.

Reflections from #ORFC. So great to see our members, friends and allies in person. Inspiring and as thoughtful as ever, we've taken away a huge amount once again.
betterfoodtraders.org/ofrc-2026/

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🗣️ We really enjoyed getting the chance to speak to so many people whose work intersects with our own at the Oxford Real Farming Conference last week!

💚 Watch our video to find out what #ORFC attendees enjoyed about this year’s conference: www.instagram.com/reel/DTh3848...

I sang a song on beauty: “I walk in beauty before me, I walk in beauty behind me, I walk in beauty above me, I walk in beauty below me, I walk in beauty all around me, The whole world is beautiful, the whole world is beautiful, the whole world is beautiful.” “HO!” People loved the song and we all loved the conference ~ Satish Kumar

The Oxford Real Farming Conference (@orfc.bsky.social) was truly amazing and inspiring - follow them if you haven't already! 2000 people participated, I spoke and sang a #song on #beauty - See alt text in photo.

People loved the song and we all loved the conference ~ Satish Kumar

#ORFC #Farming

Another amazing #ORFC. Thank you everyone that came to our workshop on ‘funders and the movement’, and big thanks to ORFC team & volunteers for another inspiring conference 🙏

Do you agree with this postcard suggestion at #ORFC?

In what context have you heard 'resilience' used - and does the term annoy you?

At @orfc.bsky.social? Look out for our 'problematic language' postcards to get involved - or use our form: bit.ly/44QjQVS

#ORFC26

"Many of the words used to describe sustainable farming foster or activate antagonistic & reactionary responses" - #ORFC26 attendee

Do you agree? Disagree?|

To get involved in our 'problematic language' exercise, look out for our cards at @ORFC or use our form: bit.ly/44QjQVS

#ORFC

Our 'problematic language' series is getting great input from a range of attendees at #ORFC26. Next up: 'Regenerative'

"It rewards a history of bad behaviour - what about those who never de-generated?" - do you agree?

At ORFC? Look out for our cards, or use our form: bit.ly/44QjQVS

#ORFC

ORFC Day 1: what a start! 🎉 Inspiring panel discussions with our amazing NFFN farmers and staff, connecting with staff and peers at our Meet & Greet at the pub… Day 1 has been full of insight, stories, and chats. 🍻 

Looking forward to day 2!
 
#orfc #nffn

“Sustainable”, “regenerative”, “agroecological" - all words we’re expecting to hear at #ORFC - but what do they actually mean?

If you spot our cards in the wild at #ORFC2026, pop a response on!

Or, if you don’t, drop words onto our form: bit.ly/44QjQVS

#ORFC #ORFC26

Current #orfc in Oxford, UK. Be there!

I will share my takeaways from the #ORFC 2026 opening plenary session, especially the wisdom and motivation shared by movement leaders, as well as the session titled “Agrarian Reform Now: Reflections from Nyéléni and Beyond” by LWA & La Via Campesina.

Viva La Via Campesina! by Emma Reith. Originally created for the Landworkers' Alliance Calendar 2025. www.emmareith.com

Francesca Price tells the story of the Oxford Real Farming Conference #ORFC and how it grew into a movement for #change — creating spaces for conversations about #RegenerativeFarming and founded in a belief that #AnotherWorldIsPossible > www.resurgence.org/magazine/art...

@orfc.bsky.social #Farming

#ORFC also has sessions on the growing demand for organic vegetables, horticulture and the future of U.K. orchards.
All of which are important for plant based foods and drinks.

U.K. livestock sector often seems more focussed on “threats” rather than on promoting high quality sustainable meat.

Our founders @kitchenbee.bsky.social and Jason O’Rourke will be at #ORFC this Friday, joined by @mallikabasu.bsky.social and Nick Saltmarsh (hodmedods) for a hands-on workshop on inspiring future generations to love legumes through sensory exploration.

Fri 9 Jan 9–10.20am Story Museum – Woodshed

"Farming should be about regenerating the potential of the living soil, the living seeds, the living water, the living insects and the entire web of life" ~ Vandana Shiva, from We Are the ReGeneration

#Farming should be about #regenerating the potential of the living #soil, the living #seeds, the living #water, the living #insects and the entire #WebOfLife ~ @drvandanashiva.bsky.social, from We Are the ReGeneration

The #ORFC @orfc.bsky.social 2026 takes place 8-9 January 2026: orfc.org.uk

#Hope

Sustain at the Oxford Real Farming Conference 2026 | Sustain Find out what sessions we are organising and contributing to at ORFC in January 2026, including a Q&A with the EFRA Committee and the return of “Food & Farming Futures”, a networking event for new…

Sustain at the Oxford Real Farming Conference 2026

Find ous sessions at #ORFC in January 2026, including a Q&A with the EFRA Committee and the return of “Food & Farming Futures”, a networking event for new entrants and young people.
www.sustainweb.org/news/dec25-s...

Oxford Real Farming Conference 2026 | Sustainable Food Trust The SFT have a range of sessions going ahead at ORFC in January – find out when and where you can find us.

For more information about our sessions and workshops at #ORFC taking place later this week, visit: sustainablefoodtrust.org/event/oxford...

Online tickets are still available!

Come meet us at the The Great Lunchtime Landmatch this Thursday at ORFC as we unveil the service & discuss challenges/opportunities of landmatching.

12.45-13.30 at the Inter-Varsity Room at Blue Boar House. We're also sharing a table with @csanetworkuk.bsky.social so come chat with us there!
#orfc

🧶 We'll be returning to the Oxford Real Farming Conference in a few weeks' time to host our popular wool workshop – showcasing the beauty and versatility of wool, we'll be introducing ORFC attendees to new skills, whilst highlighting the role of sheep and wool in sustainable farming systems.

#ORFC

ORFC 2026 Speakers and Chairs - Oxford Real Farming Conference

Find out more about #ORFC26 - Oxford Real Farming Conference 2026 by visiting:

ORFC26 Speakers and Chairs: orfc.org.uk/orfc-2026-ch...

ORFC26 In-Person Programme: orfc.org.uk/orfc-2026-in...

ORFC26 Online Programme: orfc.org.uk/orfc-2026-on...

#OxfordRealFarmingConference #RealFarming #ORFC

Oxford Real Farming Conference 🌾 7- 9 Jan 2026 The Oxford Real Farming Conference (ORFC) brings the grassroots food and farming movement together around agroecology and food sovereignty every January.

Our very own #SatishKumar is holding a #meditation from 8-8.30am on the morning of Friday the 9th of January, and a closing plenary on the 9th at 4pm.

#OxfordRealFarmingConference #ORFC #RealFarming #Conference #Workshops #Talks #Farming #Farmers #Food #LandWorkers #WisdomKeepers #ChangeMakers

How can we utilise the law for better farming and a cleaner environment?

That’s the question we’ll be exploring during our panel at the Oxford Real Farming Conference 2026. Join us!

When? Friday 9th at 9am
Where? Jesus College Ship Street - Lecture theatre

orfc.org.uk/orfc-2026-in... #ORFC

🚜🌾✊🏽 ORFC - Oxford Real Farming Conference @orfc.bsky.social 📅 8 & 9 January 2026 📍Oxford (UK) + Livestream 🛜 💢 In Person Programme: https://orfc.org.uk/orfc-2026-in-person-programme 🔴 Online Programme: https://orfc.org.uk/orfc-2026-online-programme 📷 Media Centre: https://orfc.org.uk/media-centre 👉 +infos: https://orfc.org.uk #ORFC #ORFC26 #ORFC2026

🚜🌾✊🏽 ORFC - Oxford Real Farming Conference @orfc.bsky.social
📅 8 & 9 January 2026
📍Oxford (UK) + Livestream 🛜
💢 In Person Programme: orfc.org.uk/orfc-2026-in...
🔴 Online Programme: orfc.org.uk/orfc-2026-on...
📷 Media Centre: orfc.org.uk/media-centre
👉 +infos: orfc.org.uk

#ORFC #ORFC26 #ORFC2026

🚨🧶 Call for wool-based skills! 🧶🚨

Are you a skilled weaver, spinner, knitter or crocheter? Come and display your skills and learn new ones at our Wool Skills Workshop at the Oxford Real Farming Conference in January.

📧 If interested, email: megan@sustainablefoodtrust.org.

#ORFC #ORFC2026

Clover living mulch

Mark Lea

Living with #livingmulches… hard lessons, hidden rewards! 🌱

Mark Lea from Green Acres Farm shared his 5 years of insight at #ORFC in Jan. The key message? To succeed you need patience, planning, and a willingness to adapt 💯.

🎧 Listen: ow.ly/uH6I50Wyv6h
📽️ Learn more: ow.ly/A3Xw50WyuY7

📍 On Sunday, SFT CEO and organic farmer, Patrick Holden, will be speaking at 'Beyond the Plate' in London – similar to the Land, Food & Spirit session Patrick joined at #ORFC this year – exploring a conscious approach to food, farming and the planet.

➡️ www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/beyond-the...

🌾"#Agroecology extends to changes across the legal system... I perceive #ecocidelaw to have a potentially really useful role to play in that"
@thesoilassociation.bsky.social Association's @rob-percival.bsky.social at a recent #ORFC event.

Watch the event! 👉 orfc.org.uk/session/tran...

#StopEcocide

ORFC 2025: Highlights from this year’s conference | Sustainable Food Trust We give an overview on ORFC 2025, including one of our sessions, Grazing for Good, which took a closer look at the integral relationship between livestock and the biodiversity it supports.

This video formed part of the ‘Land, Food and Spirit’ session at #ORFC a few weeks ago, a panel which was chaired by Patrick Holden.

For an overview of #ORFC25, visit our website ⬇️ sustainablefoodtrust.org/news-views/o...

🚜 SFT CEO, Patrick Holden, reflects on discussions at #ORFC, highlighting why the plough may not be the worst option when it comes to nature-friendly cultivation.

Patrick recounts the positive ploughing experiences of two organic farmers – Iain Tolhurst and Richard Gantlett.