Real Farming Trust

We were delighted to co-host an event at Westminster yesterday to give MPs an insight into how supporting agroecology could play a vital role in tackling major challenges such as the climate and biodiversity crises, public health concerns, and food security 🌱 The event showcased delicious produce from around the UK, and offered an opportunity for politicians to speak to farmers and landworkers while learning about the principles of agroecology 🌾 Many thanks to all who attended, and to Sarah Dyke MP for hosting 🙏 Pictured: Farming minister Daniel Zeichner MP with Robert Fraser, executive director of the the Real Farming Trust, and representatives from the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN), The Landworkers' Alliance’ Alliance (LWA), and Sustain: The alliance for better food and farming at the Taste of Agroecology event in Westminster

We asked the ORFC team which online sessions they were most excited about and why. The images below show what they said ⬇️ These picks are just a few of the 35+ livestreamed sessions that will be available for online ticket holders from anywhere in the world, covering a wide array of topics from practical farm advice to food policy, land justice, Indigenous wisdom, and much, much more. Online delegates will also have the opportunity to ask live questions to session speakers, interact directly with other ORFC delegates, and rewatch sessions any time they like. Get your online tickets or gift them to a friend via the link: https://lnkd.in/e2SfQ9PH

In a time of escalating challenges for farmers and our environment, the Real Farming Trust stands united with leading voices in the environmental and agroecology sectors. Together with 40 other food, farming and conservation organisations, we’ve co-signed an open letter to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, calling for urgent reforms to ensure the future of farming is both sustainable and equitable. https://lnkd.in/eiHEs9wN

We’re at a pivotal time for farming & nature, with farmers struggling & wildlife declining🧑🌾 We’re calling on Government to stand up for farming communities by ensuring fair supply chains & pledging more funding for ELM schemes🌱 Read more in the letter to the Prime Minister that nature groups across the country have signed👇 https://lnkd.in/eipjzuWd

If you are passionate about food sovereignty and agroecology and want to gain experience of a large event, join us as an ORFC volunteer in January. ONLINE Volunteer roles: ☘ Online Sessions Volunteer, helping to support livestreamed sessions ☘ Online Communications Volunteer, helping to generate digital buzz around the conference IN-PERSON Volunteer roles: ☘ Event Volunteer, supporting the safe, efficient, friendly, and smooth running of the conference ☘ Press Room Volunteer, providing a friendly welcome to journalists and media ☘ Creative Comms Volunteers, highlighting the best bits from ORFC sessions ☘ Programme Guide Volunteers, helping to point delegates towards sessions and offer recommendations of what to see next Online volunteer applications are due by Thursday, 28th November 2024 by 11:59 GMT In-person volunteer applications are due by Thursday, 31th October 2024 by 11:59 GMT Find out more and apply: https://lnkd.in/dAPMqtEu

What an incredible and inspiring couple of days we had last week for our first ORFC in the Field in Scotland at the stunning Comrie Croft 🍂✨ Highlights include making potato beds with seaweed with Padruig Morrison, saving heritage seeds with Seeds of Scotland, exploring TOMNAH'A MARKET GARDEN LTD and the other community-led micro enterprises at Comrie Croft, on-farm fungi cultivation with Rhyze Mushrooms, visioning our parcel of land with Theona Morrison, discussing Dùthcas with Col Gordon, talking land justice with Community Land Scotland The Landworkers' Alliance and raising mangalitzas in Scotland’s toughest terrain with David Carruth And of course we can’t forget the incredible storytelling, folk songs, traditional music and ceilidh dancing… plus the magical aurora borealis display to end the event 💫 Thank you to all of our amazing tutors and everyone who came along! See you in the field with the Oxford Real Farming Conference again soon 🌱

ORFC 2025 tickets are now available! Book your spot quickly - they always sell out! https://lnkd.in/e2SfQ9PH

British farmers need your help. We’re asking supermarkets to show some integrity, and stop #farmwashing What is farmwashing? It’s where supermarkets use fake farm brands, vague welfare labels, and overuse of the Union Jack to give shoppers the impression that their products come from quaint British family farms. However, much of the food is increasingly sourced from industrial US-style, mega farms or from overseas. What’s more, these tactics mask a harsh reality - the decline of Britain’s family farms, in large thanks to unethical practices like these. We’ve written to the CEOs of the Big Six supermarkets #Tesco #Sainsbury's #Asda #Morrisons #Aldi and #Lidl asking them to be honest about where their food comes from, and how it’s produced. Farming is on the brink. According to new research that we conducted, 61% of farmers fear having to give up their farm in the next 18 months. Only 1 in 4 (24%) farmers think that supermarket claims to support British farmers are credible and backed up by their buying behaviour It’s not what shoppers want either. We found that 67% of shoppers felt distrustful and annoyed when they learned that the word ‘farm’ can be used by supermarkets without it being from a real farm, while 74% of shoppers demand transparency from supermarkets about the origins of their food. Read our open letter, then head to the link below to find out more about our #stopfarmwashing campaign, and how you can help us get our message heard. ➡ https://lnkd.in/e62Cr57q

🎟️ Heading to The Labour Party conference? We're taking part in a Farmers' Market Place of Ideas with Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, Sustainable Food Trust, Nature Friendly Farming Network, Sustain: The alliance for better food and farming, Bite Back, Pasture for Life, Soil Association, Real Farming Trust to challenge Labour leaders to seize the opportunities that fixing food offers – from climate and nature to health and the economy. Come and join us: https://lnkd.in/d_g2GNcQ  

#LPC24 event: ‘Your next mission: Fix food, fix the planet’ We’re at Party Conference later this month to challenge The Labour Party leaders to seize the opportunities that fixing food offers for a fairer, healthier & greener society. Hear from Wildfarmed's Andy Cato, Sophie Aplin and James Rebanks and join our Market Place of Ideas with other food & farming orgs. Drinks from 5-6.30pm, Mon 23, Leonardo Hotel. Register now: https://lnkd.in/d_g2GNcQ The Food Foundation Sustain: The alliance for better food and farming Bite Back Soil Association Real Farming Trust Pasture for Life Sustainable Food Trust Nature Friendly Farming Network Anna Taylor Martin Lines Lesley Mitchell Robert Fraser Jimmy Woodrow James Toop Brendan Costelloe