Somerville College was honoured last week to convene the second annual dinner for the delegates of the UK’s two most important farming conferences.
Members of the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) and the Oxford Real Farming Conference (ORFC) joined us at Somerville on Wednesday 7th January ahead of their respective conferences for an evening of shared food, celebration and conversations about the future of UK farming.
York & North Yorks Mayor David Skaith speaking at the dinner
Guests at the dinner heard from the directors of both conferences, followed by a keynote from David Skaith, Mayor of York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority. Responding to the evening’s focus on the UK government’s devolution agenda, Mr Skaith was clear on how devolution could help create a more resilient food and farming sector. “We can’t design farming policy from above,’ Mr Skaith commented. “We need to build it from the ground up… It’s about bringing people together, and backing the people who know the land best.”
The event was also attended by several young people entering farming with the support of the Ernest Cook Trust, a charity that empowers people to connect with nature and the environment. One such person was Yasmin AliEskandari, who told guests about the extraordinary life events that led her into farming, and the enduring hope in the future of the industry she has gained through the Trust. “This industry is so important,” Yasmin said, “because it represents something quite ancient that I fear we are in danger of losing from mainstream society. Our communities thrived in the past because they understood the importance of looking after the land so it can look after you.”
Guests at the dinner
Also speaking at the event was Somerville’s own Senior Research Fellow, Associate Professor John Ingram, who established food systems research at Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute. John commented that: “An academic institution is the ideal space, neutral yet engaged, in which to convene a meeting like this. Moreover, it’s absolutely in the spirit of Somerville to bring together people in an open and convivial manner to share good ideas and good food. Actually, correct that, excellent food.”
Catered by Somerville College kitchens, the menu was designed to celebrate seasonal ingredients grown by UK farmers and producers working to agroecological principles. It featured flour and wild-shot venison from Bruern Farms, pulses from wholefood growers Hodmedod’s, vegetables from local social enterprise OxFarmtoFork and wine from Les Caves de Pyrene.
The dinner itself was a collaboration between the FFCC and Sue Pritchard, Pasture for Life and Jimmy Woodrow, Hodmedod’s and Josiah Meldrum, and the University of Cumbria’s Centre for National Parks & Protected Areas and Julia Aglionby (1991, Biology). Julia, who is a Professor of Practice at the Centre for National Parks & Protected Areas, told Somerville: “This dinner provides a special opportunity for the delegates of these two conferences to listen and learn from each other’s perspectives. Sharing good food reminds us of our shared culture and challenges, and inspires us to think collaboratively about how we can reconnect British farmers with food systems, and British people with farming.”
Somerville College wishes to thank the supporters and organisers of the dinner, as well as our own excellent catering team, for another memorable evening celebrating the best of British farming.
With thanks to: Gavin Lane, President of the CLA; Yasmin AliEskandari; and the FFCC for images.