Oxford Farming Conference Emerging Leaders Podcast

Our 2023 podcast series, "Oxford Inspires", kicks-off this month with a new host, and new focus. Farmer, OFC Director, and award-winning podcaster, Will Evans takes us on a journey of leadership and networking, as he speaks to OFC directors, speakers, scholars, emerging leaders and Inspire delegates. We hear their personal stories and experience, and reflect on their time at Oxford. In this first episode, Will is joined by Emily Norton to find out why she believes in taking on leadership roles, such as OFC Chair, and her passion to leave the conference in an even better shape than she found it. She also touches on the role of an OFC Director, ahead of applications closing next week. They cover a lot of ground, and lots of laughs, in just 20 minutes.

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.

"I think that indoor farming is making the pie bigger. That is what I want to see – more ways to get great tasting, nutritious food, instead of saying that it has to be indoor versus outdoor."  In our latest podcast, OFC Director Sarah Mukherjee, speaks to Vonnie Estes, Vice President of Technology for the Produce Marketing Association.

This month OFC Director, Sarah Mukherjee, caught up with Professor Tim Lang to put forward more of your questions, following our July #OFCBitesize. During the podcast Tim talks about the future of food, public health, policy and trade.

This month Anna Hill found out what makes OFC Chairman Sally Williams tick and how her vision for the next year will bring a new flavour to the OFC through opportunities such as greater international engagement. A dairy and sheep farmer from the South East of Scotland she is a strong advocate of utilising technology including the delivery of the OFC 2021 conference. Listen to the podcast here.

Back in January 2020, Poran Malani joined us for #OFC20 and talked about how, for him, the perception and reality of farming was experiencing the biggest gap in his thirty year career. He also talked about the necessity of fresh food in developing countries and delivering it direct to the consumer because people were not prepared to travel to the producer. Grab a coffee, sit back for 10 minutes and listen-in.

OFC Director Anna Hill speaks to Henry Dimbleby ahead of the Oxford Farming Conference 2020 to find out what makes him tick, why food is his passion and what he hopes for the future of the UK Food Strategy. Henry will be speaking on Wednesday 8th January at 11.30am and will be joined on stage by Evan Davis (BBC Presenter), Denise Bentley (First Love Foundation), John Shropshire (G’s Farm),Ian Mitchell (Center for Global Development) and Roger Whiteside (Greggs plc). Register to watch the live stream HERE

In the first podcast of this new six-piece series Anna Hill speaks to OFC20 Chairman Matthew Naylor about the #OFC20 programme and speakers.

Dairy Farmer Aylett Roan from South West Scotland, tells us how the thirst to add value to milk sparked off a successful door-stop business venture, Roan's Dairy and her experience of running their mobile Udder Bar. We hear how becoming a Scottish Enterprise Rural Leader “opened up a whole new world” for Aylett and making an appearance on BBC’s This Farming Life gave her the boost she needed.

Our next podcast hears from David Hill who is involved with the management of three rural estates so he knows a thing or two about agricultural challenges and opportunities. A Chartered Surveyor and formally working as an agricultural adviser for the CLA, he spends most of his time looking after Eling Estate, a 5,000 acre unit just north of Newbury comprising of four let farms of approximately 1000 acres each. The land is predominantly arable although one of the farms is an organic dairy farm, milking around 400-450 cows. There is also an in-hand forestry enterprise extending to 1,100-acres of mixed woodland all of which is open to the public as well as 110 let cottages.  

Pig Farmer Kate Morgan talks about the family business that she runs alongside her parents and two sisters in East Yorkshire. Running two different systems, straw yards and slats, we discuss the differences between the two, and also hear about the innovative free-farrowing system that the family installed a few years back, as well as issues facing the pig industry, such as antibiotic usage, assurance schemes, and the importance of showing children and young people what’s really going on on UK farms. All this, and much, much more. 

Arable farmer Tim Beaver talks to Rock and Roll Farming about growing for Weetabix and Silver Spoon, the frustrations of stewardship schemes and a trip with BASF he rated better than his honeymoon. Vociferous on neonicotinoids, he also speaks about making a difference through boards, the future of Red Tractor and getting a response via Mr Gove. Tune in Now!

For this episode Will speaks to dairy farmer and OFC19 emerging leader, Becci Berry. They talked about her farm on the Oxfordshire/ Wiltshire border, and how she came to be involved following the tragic death of her husband Richard from bowel cancer. They go into some of the challenges she’s faced and the changes she’s made, as well as what she thinks of veganuary and the anti-dairy movement in general. Both Will and Becci are tenant farmers so they also have a good discussion around the issues they are facing at the moment, before talking about their mutual experiences as Emerging Leaders at the Oxford Farming Conference. 

Hill sheep and beef farmer, Niall Blair, from the Angus Glens in Scotland talks about being a first generation farmer, the challenges of upland hill farming, his own crusade to promote farming to the wider public and why he rates the Oxford Farming Conference.

Sarah Bell is a mixed farmer, consultant, Emerging Leader and one of the speakers at the 2019 famous Union Debate. In conversation with Rock and Roll Farmer Will Evans, they talk women in agriculture, the importance of data in ag,rural connectivity, digital lockers, the new ag bil and of course...the debate!

In our fifth podcast, fifth generation sheep and suckler cow farmer Kate Rowell talks about life on her hill and upland farm near Peebles in the Scottish Borders and her new appointment as Chairman of Quality Meat Scotland. The first woman to hold this position, she talks about leadership and gaining the confidence to support the business network of farmers. She also talks about her time working as a vet for eight years including during the time of foot and mouth, why farming is something she has always wanted to do and her highlights from the Oxford Farming Conference 2018.

Neil Quinlan's grandfather was a tenant dairy farmer, and Neil studied agriculture at college. However, he spent his 20s in the construction industry, always maintaining a strong interest in farming. At the age of 30 Neil thought “if I don’t return to agriculture I never will”. Seven years on an Neil now runs his own farm business outside Chester and contract farms his in-laws farm, rearing dairy heifers as well as raising dairy beef cross calves. He is also converting an outbuilding to accommodate guests.    

Suffolk based agronomist and arable farmers daughter Laura Buckingham talks about her passion for agriculture, farming stereotypes and the gender balance. In this action packed podcast she also talks about working with people to build relationships, opportunities in agriculture, how to attract young people to the industry, LEAF Open Farm Sunday and the advancement of technology and innovation.

Ahead of National Farm Safety week (16 – 20 July 2018), we hear from Warwickshire farmer, contractor, farm safety campaigner and OFC Emerging Leader James Chapman. He openly talks about the devasting farm accident in 2005 that changed his life both physically and mentally, and following his Nuffield Scholarship whether he feels farm safety is improving within the UK. We also learn about his farming background, decision to leave school at an early age, setting up on his own at the young age of 22 and his journey to National Chairman of the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs.

In the first podcast we meet Northampton arable farmer and Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) Director Andrew Pitts. We find out more about his business, leadership in agriculture, the view from Defra following a special OFC event as his farm, issues facing the industry, what more we can do to improve our businesses and plans for the 2018 OFC Emerging Leaders programme.