The UN reports that the only way we can meet the global target of 1 billion restored hectares in the next eight years and avoid ecosystem collapse is to support people across the world to engage in localised ecosystem restoration. Join this lunchtime session and explore how we can leverage online learning to support a peer-driven, participatory global ecosystem restoration movement.

There is a buzz of excitement forming around new ways of farming sustainably with the idea of a regenerative revolution gaining traction amongst farmers. This new term may sound different, but fundamentally it is very similar to organic, and some principles of each are shared, moving from an extractive to a restorative style of agriculture.

The urgently needed transition to agroecology begins with seed and soil. This transition is only possible with policies and efforts to support and recognise native seeds.

In the spectrum of services farmers can access to help them transition to regenerative practices, where does mentoring fit? Often overlooked or poorly executed, does mentoring have a place alongside other services farmers access to support their practice?

For the first time, UK policymakers are actively researching the potential for agroecology to help deliver net zero. In Spring 2022, the Climate Change Committee (CCC) commissioned the University of Aberdeen to review a range of agroecological farm practices – such as reduced and minimum tillage, leys, extensive livestock systems and cropping approaches – and assess their impact on GHG emissions, vegetation and soil carbon stocks, and changes to yields.

What’s the state of UK food security and should we be growing more food in the UK? In December 2021, the UK government published the first of its new triennial Food Security Reports. This painted a picture which could either reassure or concern us.

The ORFC is full of great initiatives demonstrating agroecology and nature-friendly farming in action. But at a national and global level, progress is still too slow and we need to understand why.

Join us in a conversation with three entrepreneurs working in food and farming and two funders exploring alternative financing models.

This workshop explores practical and embodied tools to explore social permaculture principles, reflecting on transitions, interconnections and empathy concepts in community practices, centred on progressive learning and co-development.