Every species of sea vegetable, shellfish, and fish has its own story, culture, and set of policy issues. Each species, their environments, and the cultures that depend on them are at risk due to pollution, corporate extractivism, and the climate crisis. At the frontlines of those struggles are the Indigenous people who have carefully stewarded the waters around them and are continuing to do so today. Carl Wasillie, Yupik biologist based out of Washington and…

The Wind Blows the Border (Vento na Frontera), Brazil (2022), is a documentary film from directors Marina Weis and Laura Faerman. In the territories where Brazil shares its border with Paraguay, the film narrates the struggle of the Guarani-Kaiowá people for their lands against aggressive land grabbing by Brazilian agribusiness. The documentary follows the lives of two very different women, representatives of two opposing worlds: Guarani-Kaiowá community leader Alenir Aquino Ximenes and Luana Ruiz Silva,…

Do you talk to plants? We certainly do and some of them literally will not shut up! Come and have a chat with two super stars of the plant world, the Solanacea SistAs. They are ready to bend your ear about all manner of things but they are keen to tell tales of witches, shamans, medicine folk of the globe and their more ethereal practices. Meet the Hot and Sassy Carolina Reaper-Sol and the Lovely…

For the last 10 months, activist, gardener and former monk, Satish Kumar, has led a weekly Friday morning meditation for farmers, food producers and all those working towards a better food and farming system. “Beyond our differences,” he says, “we all share the soil.” This morning, Satish will lead this meditation live from the ORFC at the slightly later time of 8 am. The meditation - intended to strengthen our connection to the land and…

In this session, we hear from a speaker from an Indigenous community in Kerala who has witnessed firsthand a community revival of skills and knowledge in Indigenous and local food and farming practices over the last few years.  Also from a group supporting the Lumads, an Indigenous people in Mindanao in the Philippines, who are reviving their cultural practices in food production and working to strengthen their knowledge base and build  new practices with the…

The COP27 was very significant to Africa owing to the fact that it was held in Egypt on the African continent. Various climate actors including a number of African civil society organisations were present during the negotiations. Those that have an opportunity to access the blue zone of the COP27 had an opportunity to engage with climate negotiators from various governments. In this session, we hear from those who were present during the COP27 as…

Three legendary activists for farmers’ rights tackle the false hope and real threats of genetic modification, sharing what they have learned and how those lessons can be used in the ongoing fight. The first wave of genetically modified (GMO) crops made false promises to reduce pesticide use and create higher yields and profits for farmers - from cotton farmers in Asia to maize growers in North America. There is very little evidence that this happened…

Want to learn more about nuts? If you’re considering agroforestry but aren’t sure what to plant, or you already know you want to plant nut trees, or perhaps you already have some but don’t know what to do with them, then this is the session for you. With a panel spanning years of nut tree growing experience, international research, business development and new nut tree agroforestry enthusiasm, this session will crack open the technical and…

Over the last 30 years or so, a vibrant network of agroecological short supply chain and direct sales businesses has developed in the UK, but currently they represent a tiny proportion of the market. Scaling up will bring colossal benefits to the environment, local economies and communities; but it is an equally colossal task! Infrastructure - or lack thereof - is key to upscaling local food systems. A loss of local infrastructure - particularly processing…