The Oxford Farming Conference
Tuesday 4th January, 2011
15:00
AGM
16:00
Delegate Registration Opens
17:15
Fringe Meeting
Maximising the benefits:agriculture's role in natural resource protection hosted by Defra and Natural England Catchment Sensitive Farming.
18:30
Champagne Reception for the Pre-Conference Dinner
Sponsored by Kindly sponsored by Agrovista
19:30
Pre-Conference Dinner
Sponsored by Kindly sponsored by The Co-operative
John Humphrys, the BBC Radio 4 presenter, will bring his tenacious style to Oxford as the After Dinner Speaker
21:00
After Dinner Bar
Wednesday 5th January, 2011
07:30
Morning Prayer
Morning Prayer with Reverend Dr Gordon Gatward in the University College Chapel
08:45
Welcome and Chairman's introduction to the first session
Chairman: Christine Tacon, CBE
08:50
The European perspective
Speaker: George Lyon, MEP, Liberal Democrat
08:50
Precis of the 2011 Oxford Farming Conference Research 'The Value and Viability of UK Farming'
Sponsored by Kindly sponsored by Syngenta and Volac
Speaker: Cedric Porter
08:50
Steering Irish agriculture through the economic downturn
Speaker: Brendan Smith TD, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Fianna Fail
08:50
Building a strong and competitive food and farming sector
Speaker: Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, Secretary of State for Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
10:00
Question Time
Panel:
- Rt Hon Caroline Spelman
- George Lyon MEP
- Brendan Smith TD
- Professor Allan Buckwell, CLA Policy Director
Chairman: Matt Dempsey, Editor and Chief Executive, Irish Farmers Journal
11:00
Coffee Break
11:30
A forecast population of 9bn: Realistic? Manageable? Sustainable?
Speaker: Professor Aubrey Manning, Emeritus Professor, Edinburgh University
12:15
Lunch
13:30
Global food markets - the world is the market place
Speaker: Marcelo Secco, Commercial Director Frigorífico Tacuarembó-Marfrig SA, Uruguay
13:30
Global Perspective session
Sponsored by Kindly sponsored by Marfrig
Chairman: Professor Bill McKelvey
13:30
Farming with and without subsidies
Speaker: Jim McCarthy, CEO of Blue Yulan SA Luxembourg
13:30
Global commodity markets, where are they heading?
Speaker: Jeffrey Currie, Global Head of Commodities Research, Goldman Sachs
16:00
Session close and tea
Sponsored by Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate
18:00
Debate in The Oxford Union
Sponsored by Kindly sponsored by Birketts LLP, Saffery Champness and Smiths Gore
Motion: This house believes unrestrained population growth and food security are incompatible.
Proposing: Jonathon Porritt CBE, Co-founder of Forum for the FutureSeconding: Angharad Evansstudying MSc in International Rural Development at RAC
Opposing: Sir Paul Judge, Chairman, Schroder Income Growth Fund plcSeconding: Richard Thomas, Farmer & Chairman West Midlands Area YFC
19:30
Post Debate Supper at Christ Church College
Sponsored by Kindly sponsored by Birketts LLP, Saffery Champness and Smiths Gore
Thursday 6th January, 2011
07:45
The early bird breakfast: Celebrating all that farming does for wildlife
Sponsored by Kindly sponsored by RSPB
08:50
New Technology Session – Maximising the Efficiency and minimising Environmental Impact
Chairman: William Gemmill
08:50
Where next for livestock innovation?
Speaker: Chris Warkup, Director, Biosciences KTN
08:50
Water scarcity, does technology hold the key?
Speaker: Professor John S Boyer, E. I. du Pont Professor of Biochemistry/Biophysics Emeritus
08:50
Only clever science will yield crop results
Speaker: Bill Clark, Director of Broom’s Barn, Rothamsted Research
10:30
Coffee break
11:00
Poultry innovations forge ahead for welfare, food chain and the environment
Speaker: David Speller, Applied Poultry & 2009 FW Poultry Farmer of the Year
11:00
High-tech horticulture sets the tone for the future
Speaker: Chris Mack, Executive Chairman of Fresca Group Ltd
12:10
Lunch
13:30
The OFC Research Results
OFC Research Results in detail
13:30
Entrepreneurship in Scotland
Speaker: Gregor Mackintosh, Mackintosh of Glendaveny
13:30
Triumph and adversity in Oxfordshire
Speaker: Charles Baker, RC Baker (Agricultural Contractors) Ltd
13:30
The Frank Parkinson Lecture
Sponsored by The Frank Parkinson Agricultural Trust
Challenges and Opportunities for European Agricultural Policy
Speaker: Dacian Cioloş, Member of the European Commission Responsible for Agriculture and Rural Development
13:30
Inspiration session
Sponsored by Kindly sponsored by Waitrose
Chairman: Jane King
13:30
Managing change and making things happen
Speaker: John Shropshire OBE, CEO, Shropshire Group
15:45
Close and Tea
Sponsored by Kindly sponsored by Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate
19:30
Oxtail Club Dinner
Oxtail Club Dinner at the Worcester College