VIRTUAL CONFERENCE FOR 2021

ONE of the agricultural industry’s headline events has confirmed that it will be going fully digital for 2021, amidst ongoing uncertainty created by the coronavirus crisis, writes Athwenna Irons.

Traditionally setting the tone for the coming year, the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) brings together around 600 delegates including farmers, agri-business owners, scientists and scholars to discuss the biggest issues facing farming and prepare for the future.

First held in 1936, the conference had been due to mark its 75th anniversary over three days from January 6-8 in the historic surroundings of Oxford University’s Examination Schools.

But in a statement published this week, Sally Williams, chairman of the 2021 Oxford Farming Conference, announced that the OFC Council had made the “difficult decision” to cancel next year’s physical conference, instead replacing it with a one-day digital programme of events.

Given the OFC’s charitable status, she explained: “Amidst the COVID-19 uncertainty for people, travel and gatherings, the OFC Council talked long and hard about how we best deliver a successful and focussed event for our 75th conference in 2021.

“We run the event at break-even or a slight loss, so the uncertainty of booking the Oxford University, only for us to have to cancel due to the pandemic, is something we felt we could not support. Therefore, the council have made the difficult decision to cancel OFC 2021 and replace it with a one-day digital OFC.”

Taking place on Thursday, January 7, the online conference programme will include the always much-anticipated political discussions, inspiring farmers, the Frank Parkinson lecture and the OFC Debate – providing a provocative virtual experience with the opportunity for farmers to engage through online networking and Q&A.

Ms Williams added: “Whilst disappointed at not being able to hold a physical conference and welcome you to Oxford, we are very excited at the possibilities afforded to us by taking the conference fully virtual.

“Through the use of digital tools, we will be able to provide you with a rich experience bringing together international speakers who we might otherwise have not been able to include in the line-up.

“Never before has it been more important that we look beyond our shores and learn from our colleagues across the world, and we look forward to sharing the programme with you as it develops.”

■ For further information, please visit the website www.ofc.org.uk