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ORFC Global 2021

Full Programme

This seven-day programme offers over 150 sessions that have been programmed with partners and farming communities from across six continents.  It includes a mix of talks, panel discussions, workshops and cultural events on everything from farm practice to climate justice to indigenous knowledge. Please take some time to explore!

Please note that although workshops are free to all registered delegates, separate, advance registration is required for all workshops, and spaces are limited. Workshop registration opened to all registered delegates from Tuesday, 29 December 2020 and was sent via email. Register early to avoid disappointment!

View a PDF of the full programme here

View a printable PDF programme here

Please note the times in the online programme below should display in your local time zone.

Panel Discussion

Speakers

Leonard Diggs

Rowen White

Kelly Carlisle

Anthony Chang

Chair

Farzana Serang

Languages

English, Español

21:00 - 22:00 GMT
Tuesday, 12 January

California Farming Resilience in the Face of Climate Disaster

Fires are now a staple of summer in California, which is also during one of the most important growing cycles. As California endures this new climate pattern farmers are facing the reality of burnt land, seedlings, and precious harvest lost. What can be done? What is being done? What might others learn? Come hear the diverse perspectives on how leaders in California are continuing to embody resilience in the face of these acute challenges.

Panel Discussion
21:00 - 22:00 GMT
Tuesday, 12 January

Big Actions from a Small Island: Global Lessons for Environmental and Social Transformations from Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste has faced many challenges on its path to independence, but today faces even more - environmental degradation, deforestation, poor water security, poverty and food insecurity, with climate change only magnifying these issues.

In response, local Timorese NGO Permatil (Permaculture Timor-Leste) have been working through permaculture to build food-sovereignty, environmental restoration and social change. From developing community-driven multi-year education programmes, creating a range of globally used education resources, teaching government agriculture workers and NGO…

Farm Practice
Panel Discussion

Speakers

Kenji Sakai

Momoko Shiraki

Chair

Alice Cunningham

Languages

English

12:00 - 13:00 GMT
Wednesday, 13 January

Natural Agriculture in Japan: Restoring Biodiversity and Seed Saving

Shumei Natural Agriculture regenerates the land, water and soil, and cultivates a renewed appreciation of traditional farming culture, which has been declining in Japan. Abandoned rice paddies have not only resulted in the loss of cultural and agricultural heritage, but also the rich biodiversity of the land.

In this session, Shumei will take audiences on a virtual tour of Natural Agriculture farms in Japan, where thousands of farmers are cultivating crops using natural seeds…

Panel Discussion

Speakers

Tsuamba Bourgou

Fatou Batta

Dan Banuoku

Chair

Peter Gubbels

Languages

English, Français

12:00 - 13:00 GMT
Wednesday, 13 January

West African Farmer Testimonies: How We Are Overcoming the Crisis of Climate Change in the Sahel Through Natural Regeneration of Trees on Our Farms

Small-scale farmers in the 16 countries of the Sahel in West Africa face a dual crisis to their livelihoods: climate change and land degradation.

For many generations, farmers had lived and farmed in equilibrium with the natural environment. They maintained soil fertility, water holding capacity and crop production through fallowing and other practices.

Today, population pressure, climate change, soil erosion, misuse of agrochemicals have reduced the resiliency and sustainability of the farming system.…

Farm Practice
Workshop

Speakers

Matt Swarbrick

Jo Kidd

Jon Perkin

Chair

Ben Raskin

Languages

English

12:00 - 13:30 GMT
Wednesday, 13 January

Decision Trees: Building Woody Perennials into Your Farming System

ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED. LIMITED SPACES: 500

Join us for a practical workshop, sharing experience and knowledge on how to make the most of trees on farms. We explore design, tree choice and potential markets.

This is an opportunity for farmers and advisors to exchange ideas and experiences about which agroforestry practices have worked, or not, when planning and implement tree and shrub planting on farms. 

Two short presentations from people who've started out in agroforestry…

Panel Discussion

Speakers

Helmy Abouleish

Patrick Holden

Julie Brown

Johanna Saxler

Chair

Nina de Winter

Languages

English, Français

13:00 - 14:00 GMT
Wednesday, 13 January

Economy of Love: Associative Economics as a Model for the Future

Is it possible to change the world domination of a profit-driven industrial-style economy that respects neither people nor planet? This session aims to explore viable, social and fair economic models for farming and supporting short-chain local food systems from the ground up. The possibility of getting closer to true-cost accounting and really equitable and transparent ‘farm to fork’ systems.

Right Livelihood Award winner and president of the Biodynamic Federation, Helmy Abouleish, presents a radical…

Panel Discussion
13:00 - 14:00 GMT
Wednesday, 13 January

Exploring the Tools that Will Deliver Lasting Change: Labels, Verification, Organic Certification: Is There a Best Option?

What does it take to deliver meaningful impact on our food production systems? Why is certification important and what other tools are there that will help facilitate better and best practice? We consider a range of approaches that aim to deliver lasting, positive change.

We know that agricultural practices are pivotal when it comes to mitigating the climate, nature and health crises we face, but debate rages about which ones are having meaningful impact. So…

Workshop
13:00 - 14:30 GMT
Wednesday, 13 January

Commons Off the Land: Sharing Infrastructure, Tech, Process and Knowledge to Build Food Sovereignty Country by Country

ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED. LIMITED SPACES: 500

The Open Food Network (OFN) is a global community of people who are passionate about supporting communities to build short food supply chains and resilient food systems that address the needs of all beings. One of the services provided by this community is a platform co-op providing an open source IT infrastructure enabling new, ethical supply chains.

OFN has been deployed In 19 countries by networks of farmers, growers…

Panel Discussion

Speakers

Debal Deb

John Letts

Sir Bob Watson

Chair

John Vidal

Languages

English, Español

14:00 - 15:00 GMT
Wednesday, 13 January

Why We Need Biodiversity: Guarding Against Future Pandemics

Only a decade ago it was widely thought that tropical forests and intact natural environments threatened humans by harbouring the viruses and pathogens that lead to new diseases in humans like Ebola, HIV and dengue. Today, a number of researchers think it is actually humanity’s destruction of biodiversity that creates the conditions for new viruses and diseases like COVID-19 to arise. These viruses have profound health and economic impacts in rich and poor countries alike…