Advertise on podcast: Oxford Farming Conference Podcast

In this special interview,  Co-founder and CEO of First Love Foundation, and National Food Strategy Advisory panel member, Denise Bentley and OFC Co-Chair Sarah Mukherjee reflect on First Love Foundation’s inspiring approach to tackle hunger and poverty, the wider societal and policy factors, and the role of the farming sector in overcoming these challenges and building resilience. The Covid-19 pandemic saw a dramatic 320% increase in the number of people seeking help from the organisation. Denise recognises that eliminating poverty cannot be achieved alone, and the UK-wide systemic change, that has already helped to bring about a shift in various areas, is still very much what is needed. She also talks about the pivotal role that farmers and the wider industry have to play in solving poverty. Through the establishment of networks between farmers and communities, and continued work in building resilience in the person’s life, the vision would be for all members of society, in crisis or not, to have the means of accessing good, affordable food.

The reputation of poor English wines no longer exists with vineyards such as Biddenden in Kent growing varieties that suit the soil and maritime culture here in the UK. But with climate change a hot topic, how does viticulture adapt to meet the demands of the future, and what do growers need to do to be more resilient. In our latest podcast, we talk to Tom Barnes about the family business which was established in 1969 and spans 23 acres of vines.  Grab a cuppa….or glass of wine, and join us in the vineyard.

In this special podcast, OFC Co-Chair Sarah Mukherjee caught up with Craig Livingstone, who sat on the National Food Strategy Panel with Henry Dimbleby. Craig is the Farm and Estate Manager at Lockerley Estate in Hampshire where they operate 1,000 hectares including arable, sheep and a working forestry enterprise, and won the Farmers Weekly Farmer of the Year award in 2018. In this short podcast, they talk about the agricultural recommendations put forward in the strategy linked to "free use of land", rewilding, environmental commitments, a change in language and why this is a monumental occasion for farming.

For almost a generation, the Oxford Farming Conference and the Frank Parkinson Agricultural Trust have been working together. In the latest podcast from the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC), Co-Chair Sarah Mukherjee speaks to Christopher Bourchier, Chair of the trust, about the longstanding partnership between the two charities. The discussion covers the trust's founder, stand-out lectures, and how the partnership was formed. Grab yourself a cup of tea and have a listen.

In this fantastic interview between Sarah Mukherjee, OFC's 2022 Co-Chair, and Matt Naylor, they reflecting on the changes since Matt's term as Chair in 2019/20. The discussion covers a lot of ground, including an increased demand for flowers as a result of the pandemic, sustainability and a shortage of cardboard and steel, supply chains, global trade, politics and how to get your voice heard at OFC.

In our first podcast of the new series, leading up to the 2022 conference, our host OFC Co-Chair Sarah Mukherjee enjoys a virtual coffee with Co-Chair Barbara Bray. They touch on some of the plans for the event in January, and look back on Barbara’s journey into food, nutrition and working in the agricultural industry. Her work in the UK, Europe, Middle East and African countries led to a MBE in 2019 for her services to food nutrition. Grab your own coffee, sit back and join them.

On Thursday 7th January, the Oxford Farming Conference will celebrate its 75th event since the first conference was held in 1936. In honour of the occasion OFC Honorary President HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne joined OFC Sarah Mukherjee on the OFC podcast to reflect on the conference including some of her highlights from the last ten years as well as looking forward on the future of food, farming and international connections. HRH will join the conference on 7 January when she will deliver her speech, but for now, sit back and enjoy this short podcast down memory lane. 

As we all start preparing our festive food, our final pre-Christmas podcast is with the Bishop of Ripon, Helen-Ann Hartley, who reflects on Christmas and the role agriculture plays in the holiday season. She talks about farming, food and the future. Grab a cuppa and mince pie,  and join us for 15 minutes. Full podcast available -

In 2019, Sir Lockwood Smith took to the stage at the Oxford Farming Conference to look to the future beyond Brexit. A farmer, former New Zealand agriculture and trade minister, former High Commissioner to the UK until 2017, and member of the UK Agriculture and Trade Commission, he has been at the forefront of change.   With just two weeks to go until we officially leave the EU, OFC Director Sarah Mukherjee has been speaking with him to reflect on where we are now and his predictions for the future.

In the first of a five-part series, OFC Director Sarah Mukherjee catches up with New Zealand farmer and motivational speaker, Doug Avery. They talk about mental health and wellbeing, gathering geese, life after the pandemic and the future for farming. If you need a pick-me-up, this is well worth 15 minutes of your day.

Al Brooks is the Estate Director of Faccombe Estate in Hampshire, an enterprise that includes mixed farming, commercial shooting, forestry, renewables, pub and let property. He is passionate about reducing the farm carbon footprint and recently announced as Climate Change Champion 2020, a competition run by CPM in partnership NFU. Al was also the Chairman of our 2016 conference which looked at the theme  “Bold Agriculture”. Grab a coffee, sit back and enjoy this short podcast.

NFU Scotland President, Andrew McCornick speaks to the CEO of IEMA and OFC Director Sarah Mukherjee about the consequences for British agriculture, if the UK fails to agree trade deals post-Brexit. In this short podcast, he explained that uncertainty is increasing the level of worry within the sector, and that the impact that proposed tariffs would have under an ‘Australia deal’, akin to no deal, would open the door to “cheap food” which would be a big threat to UK farming. Tune in to find out more, and why Andrew feels we can, and need to, do better when it comes to self-sufficiency in UK agriculture.