Thursday, 7 January
Thursday, 7 January | 5pm GMT
Thinking of converting to organic?
Facilitator: Sophie Kirk, Soil Association Certification
Description: Are you a farmer or grower interested in organic production and certification? Would you like to find out more about the practicalities of organic production and the financial support available to organic farmers in the UK? Join Soil Association Certification and organic farming experts to find out more about organic production, the economics of organic farming and the conversion and certification process. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion.
Language: English
Friday, 8 January
Friday, 8 January | 1pm GMT
A practical guide to becoming Pasture for Life certified
Facilitators: Pasture-Fed Livestock Association and the auditors of the Pasture for Life certification, led by Organic Farmers & Growers (OF&G)
Description: Join the PFLA and the auditors of the Pasture for Life certification for a practical guide to the certification. This will be relevant for any farmer who is interested in the scheme, whether an existing PFLA member or not, and there will be free opportunity to ask lots of questions that are relevant to your specific situation.
Language: English
Friday, 8 January | 2pm GMT
Co-designing schemes for sustainable farming
Facilitator: Neville Cavendish, Defra
Description: Between 2021 and 2027, England will gradually move away from area-based farming subsidies, instead paying farmers to improve the environment, improve animal health and welfare, and reduce carbon emissions. Defra will co-design policies with farmers and other experts and will test, learn and adapt through the seven-year transition away from CAP. This session introduces England’s new agricultural policy, explains Defra’s principles of co-design, and gives you a chance to experience co-design in practice.
Language(s): English
Friday, 8 January | 5pm GMT
Meaningful Certification for Real Change
Facilitators: Jason Gale and Emily Moose, A Greener World
Description: Many of us have been at this for decades, yet sustainable farming has yet to reach the acreage and market-share needed to make meaningful change in how we farm and eat. Consumers are further removed from agriculture than ever before, and shifts in trade threaten the stability of traditional markets. A Greener World aims to bridge these gaps and mitigate risk with credible, high-integrity certifications backed by meaningful standards and dedicated technical and marketing support for certified farms and businesses. We know we need to reach beyond the “choir” to build awareness and demand for genuinely sustainable systems. After all, good food should be a right, not a privilege.
A Greener World (AGW) identifies, audits, certifies and promotes practical, sustainable farming systems by supporting farmers and informing consumers. AGW’s growing family of internationally available trusted certifications includes Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW, Certified Grassfed by AGW, Certified Regenerative by AGW, and Certified Non-GMO by AGW, with fish welfare programmes available in select regions. Each programme is designed to have positive and measurable impacts on the environment, society and animals, encouraging truly sustainable farming practices. AGW’s standards and procedures are robust, transparent and achievable.
We are an engaged partner for farms and businesses seeking market differentiation and a strong advocate in their corner. We invite you to bring your questions and join us to learn about what we do and how we can support your business.
Language: English
Friday, 8 January | 7pm GMT
Conversion to Organic or Biodynamic – All your questions answered.
Facilitator(s): Stuart Cragg and Dan Powell, Biodynamic Association
Description: In this discussion and Q&A, Stuart (our Head of Certification) and Dan (Farm Services Support) talk through the various options and process of conversion and address practical issues for farmers and growers.
Language: English
Saturday, 9 January
Saturday, 9 January | 2pm GMT
Counting Chickens: Civil Society Versus Multinationals
Facilitator: Tomas Remiarz, Sustainable Food Knighton
Description: Workshop and discussion on mobilising civil society to de-industrialise farming. What international strategies can we develop to support local actions opposing the industrialisation of farming?
Intensive agriculture is now one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions and loss of biodiversity worldwide. Multinational corporations make huge profits from industrialised farming that is bad for the climate, bad for soil and water and ecosystems, and of poor nutritional quality for the people who eat it. Where legislation exists to promote better practices, it is often not applied. Meanwhile traditional and alternative approaches to farming are being systematically starved of funds and access to land.
While the drive for industrialisation is driven by multinational corporations and supply chains, resistance is typically local and poorly resourced. Though we are a local campaign group in the Welsh borders, UK, we are aware that our campaign is linked to and affected by many other issues including rainforest destruction, local biodiversity loss, climate change, animal welfare, food poverty, water pollution and soil degradation.
We are calling this meeting to see what processes and structures of solidarity can or could help us to strengthen resistance to industrial farming and open space for alternatives. This will be an interactive event to pool ideas and experience, and to strengthen and connect our individual campaigns.
Language: English
Sunday, 10 January
Sunday, 10 January | 3pm GMT
A practical guide to becoming Pasture for Life certified
Facilitators: Pasture-Fed Livestock Association and the auditors of the Pasture for Life certification, led by Organic Farmers & Growers (OF&G)
Description: Join the PFLA and the auditors of the Pasture for Life certification for a practical guide to the certification. This will be relevant for any farmer who is interested in the scheme, whether an existing PFLA member or not, and there will be free opportunity to ask lots of questions that are relevant to your specific situation.
Language: English
Monday, 11 January
Monday, 11 January | 12pm GMT
Flying blind, a Treffler tine harrow for every size farm
Facilitators: Ana Pelgröm and Jos Pelgröm, Treffler-Man@Machine
Description: Welcome with your questions about harrowing. Why is Treffler unique? We would be glad to tell you how it helped with weed pressure on our farm.
Languages: English, Dutch, French or Greek
Monday, 11 January | 4pm GMT
England’s Rural Payment Schemes
Facilitators: Angela Nisbett and Barry Mann, Rural Payments Agency
Description: Update on Rural Payment Schemes.
Language: English
Monday, 11 January | 5pm GMT
Online shopfronts to build short food supply chains
Facilitator: Nick Weir, Open Food Network
Description: Come and see how farmers, growers, community food enterprises, food co-ops, buying groups, farmers’ markets, retail shops, food banks, wholesalers and others are using the Open Food Network (OFN) to build resilient local food systems that make multiple, short links between the growers and the eaters – giving maximum income to the producers whilst keeping selling prices affordable.
We will be sharing screens and taking questions to see how OFN is working in practice for thousands of producers and distributors around the world.
Language: English
Monday, 11 January | 7pm GMT
Meet the Nature Friendly Farming Network
Facilitator: Alison Rickett, Nature Friendly Farming Network
Description: Opportunity for ORFC delegates to come and talk to NFFN and find out more about our work and ask us questions.
Language: English
Tuesday, 12 January
Tuesday, 12 January | 12pm GMT
Thinking of going organic?
Facilitator: Sophie Kirk, Soil Association Certification
Description: Are you a farmer or grower interested in organic production and certification? Would you like to find out more about the practicalities of organic production and the financial support available to organic farmers in the UK? Join Soil Association Certification and organic farming experts to find out more about organic production, the economics of organic farming and the conversion and certification process. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion.
Language: English
Tuesday, 12 January | 1pm GMT
LEAP into 2021
Facilitator: Robert Fraser, Loans for Enlightened Agriculture Programme (LEAP)
Description: Need funding to grow and develop your business? Come and find out more about LEAP, which provides loans, grants and business advice to agroecological and community food businesses.
Language: English
Tuesday, 12 January | 2pm GMT
Thinking about Organic or Biodynamic conversion? All your questions answered.
Facilitators: Stuart Cragg and Dan Powell, Biodynamic Association
Description: In this discussion and Q&A, Stuart (our Head of Certification) and Dan (Farm Services Support) talk through the various options and process of conversion and address practical issues for farmers and growers.
Language: English
Tuesday, 12 January | 4pm GMT
Facilitators: Cristina Dimetto and Annie Seeley, Organic Trade Board
Description: The OTB has 10 years’ experience delivering successful marketing campaigns promoting organic to the consumer.
- Talk about the OTB and its purpose
- Showcase our marketing campaigns and how farmers can get involved
- Outline plans for 2021
- Give info on topline membership benefits
- Q&A and discussion
Language: English
Tuesday, 12 January | 9pm GMT
Description: Continuation of the Rural Youth Forum: What Is the Future for Rural Areas Without Young People Session.
Language: English
Wednesday, 13 January
Wednesday, 13 January | 12pm GMT
Facilitators: Jason Gale and Emily Moose, A Greener World
Description: Many of us have been at this for decades, yet sustainable farming has yet to reach the acreage and market-share needed to make meaningful change in how we farm and eat. Consumers are further removed from agriculture than ever before, and shifts in trade threaten the stability of traditional markets. A Greener World aims to bridge these gaps and mitigate risk with credible, high-integrity certifications backed by meaningful standards and dedicated technical and marketing support for certified farms and businesses. We know we need to reach beyond the “choir” to build awareness and demand for genuinely sustainable systems. After all, good food should be a right, not a privilege.
A Greener World (AGW) identifies, audits, certifies and promotes practical, sustainable farming systems by supporting farmers and informing consumers. AGW’s growing family of internationally available trusted certifications includes Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW, Certified Grassfed by AGW, Certified Regenerative by AGW, and Certified Non-GMO by AGW, with fish welfare programmes available in select regions. Each programme is designed to have positive and measurable impacts on the environment, society and animals, encouraging truly sustainable farming practices. AGW’s standards and procedures are robust, transparent and achievable.
We are an engaged partner for farms and businesses seeking market differentiation and a strong advocate in their corner. We invite you to bring your questions and join us to learn about what we do and how we can support your business.
Language: English
Wednesday, 13 January | 4pm GMT
Online shopfronts to build short food supply chains
Facilitator: Nick Weir, Open Food Network
Description: Come and see how farmers, growers, community food enterprises, food co-ops, buying groups, farmers’ markets, retail shops, food banks, wholesalers and others are using the Open Food Network (OFN) to build resilient local food systems that make multiple, short links between the growers and the eaters – giving maximum income to the producers whilst keeping selling prices affordable.
We will be sharing screens and taking questions to see how OFN is working in practice for thousands of producers and distributors around the world.
Language: English
Wednesday, 13 January | 5pm GMT
A practical guide to becoming Pasture for Life certified
Facilitators: Pasture-Fed Livestock Association and the auditors of the Pasture for Life certification, led by Organic Farmers & Growers (OF&G)
Description: Join the PFLA and the auditors of the Pasture for Life certification for a practical guide to the certification. This will be relevant for any farmer who is interested in the scheme, whether an existing PFLA member or not, and there will be free opportunity to ask lots of questions that are relevant to your specific situation.
Language: English