On 8th January 2025, the two most important farming conferences in the UK met for the first time at Somerville. Somerville student Catherine Stephenson (2022, Biology) reflects on the significance of the occasion for an increasingly sustainable and strategically important farming industry.

The Oxford Farming Conference has taken place in Oxford every January since 1936. It is known for being a high-profile political occasion attended by leading figures in the agricultural sphere, where major policies are announced. By contrast, the Oxford Real Farming Conference was established in 2009 to provide an alternative space for hands-on discussion between practitioners with more of a focus on sustainable farming. Despite occurring at the same time, in the same city, there seemed little chance the different worlds of the two conferences would ever meet.

But the farming industry is changing. Post-Brexit, the move away from a subsidy-model has created a new focus on supporting farmers in delivering environmental services. As a result, the entire industry is becoming more environmentally focused. At the same time, the soaring £268 billion cost of our current food system thanks to processed food’s adverse health effects and fresh food’s high production tariffs, is adding momentum to calls for a greater role and status for British farming.

Author and farmer James Rebanks addressing guests at the dinner.

In January 2025, Somerville College witnessed this new era in action as the two delegations met for the first time at a shared dinner to celebrate the opening of their respective conferences. Somerville was asked to host this historic event in recognition of our College’s commitment to sustainable agriculture through the OpenAg Symposium, which occurs annually at Somerville, organised by the Oxford India Centre for Sustainable Development.

At the dinner, high-profile figures from both conferences came together to promote collaboration and dialogue. A dinner, expertly prepared by the Somerville catering team with food provided by the farmers, reminded everyone how a good meal can bring people together. After dinner, guests heard from Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, James Rebanks, the celebrated author and farmer, and our very own Catherine Stephenson, a third-year Biologist. Complementing the viewpoints of policymaker and practitioner, Catherine told guests what the next generation wants and needs from farming.

A transcript of Catherine’s speech is given below.

Catherine Stephenson (2022, Biology): “What does my generation need to make farming for food, nature and climate both feasible and rewarding?”

“Farming was always an all-consuming lifestyle. But farmers today must additionally endure low prices, face rising input costs and strive to balance the impacts of climate change whilse trying to farm and protect nature. We face governmental inconsistency and ignorance, inheritance challenges, unexpected subsidy cuts, detrimental trade deals and mounting stress.

So why do we bother?

Because we can work in incredible landscapes with inspiring people, and we are outside in nature every day. We have rich social heritage, culture and tradition. Seeing hard work pay off is hugely satisfying. We get to work with family and have freedom growing up whilst learning the value of hard work. We get to work with animals and produce natural food. Funny moments can make the antics of Shaun the Sheep feel a little too relatable.

Catherine addressing the inaugural joint farming conference dinner, January 2025.

We bother because we are stubborn, resilient and proud of what we do.

But while these factors may be rewarding, they don’t make the industry viable.

I thought the best way to find out what my generation needs was to ask them, although with hindsight I probably shouldn’t have attempted this at the Durham Young Farmers’ Christmas party. I didn’t get many coherent answers…

But the overarching thing that people told me was that we need to be able to make a profit doing what we do. What needs to change for that to happen? Well, three themes came through:

Consistency, understanding and diversity: these qualities will be vital both for engaging existing farm kids and attracting new entrants.

So first, consistency: When I asked a neighbour, William, he said that we need: “well thought-out government policy that does not kill confidence or stifle innovation.” For any business to be successful, having the ability and the confidence to plan long-term is essential. Not only 1 year, 5 years or 10 years ahead, but through the length of a career. So far, in my short life, we’ve had 14 DEFRA ministers, 6 of whom have been in the 5 years since Brexit. This has led to 6 changes of policy direction since we allegedly ‘took back control’. So, for example, that lack of consistency will sadly impact our nature recovery goals, as farmers will have no option except to prioritise producing as much food as possible rather than bankrolling environmental work.

It’s viability or nothing.

Secondly, understanding:

Whilst I love Shaun the Sheep, the cute, idyllic picture it paints doesn’t reflect the graft that is farming. A farm comes before everything. This is perhaps difficult to appreciate for anyone not living in that environment every day. My brother James says he wants “farmers to be better understood and respected”. He means that both culturally and economically. We need a willingness to understand farming. Farming in its entirety. And, primarily, people need to understand that farmers are food producers. We feed the nation, and, in doing so, we can conserve and restore the natural landscape.

But we farm kids also need to embrace different perspectives within the industry to become better farmers going forward.

Thirdly, diversity:

There are many perspectives in the industry. No two farms operate the same way. But validating more voices seems really important. Sitting here tonight, surrounded by portraits of so many inspiring women, it is heartening that women’s voices in farming are increasingly heard.

As a biology student, I’d say that diversity is really everything: diversity of life is about the diversity in the soil, and everything stems from that. Our farm motto is “healthy soil, happy cattle”.

So, consistency, understanding and diversity. My farming generation cares and wants to carry on farming, earning a living without hindrance. It shouldn’t be necessary to diversify away from farming; and not everyone has that option.

Hopefully, each of us has half a century ahead of us to contribute well, producing nutritious food, and sustaining the land so that we can carry on farming it indefinitely.

If farming becomes truly valued in its own right, this ambition will come to fruition.”

Catherine wishes to thank Julia Aglonby, the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, Pasture for Life, the Foundation for Common Land and Hodmedod for facilitating an amazing night. Hopefully, this was the first of many such meetings to come…

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