The Oxford Farming Conference: Insights for the network
OFC 2026 delivered a clear message: the tools for change exist, but the system isn’t designed to let them land. Farmers are being asked to deliver food security, climate action and higher environmental standards within a commercial model that pushes risk down the chain, lacks clear policy signals and rarely pays for outcomes. This is straining the sector financially, emotionally and structurally.
1. Key themes
Three issues dominated conversations:
Mental health and wellbeing, made worse by policy churn and mounting pressure.
Confidence to invest, which is faltering without long-term clarity.
The money gap, with unpaid labour and environmental delivery continuing to prop up national objectives without compensation.
Delegates weren’t asking for vision, they were asking for translation between policy and farm reality, practical mechanisms for scaling support, and real incentives for resilience.
2. What farmers asked for
Clear, coherent policy with stable timelines. Payment for delivering public and environmental goods. A planning system that supports on-farm development. Control and value from data. A market that rewards high standards, not penalises them. Trade deals that do not undermine Uk standards. And support that reaches the many.
3. What industry was asked to do
Invest in co-designed commercial models that fund standards, reward collaboration and support adaptation. Longer contracts, outcome-linked pricing and joined-up data asks are all levers that can move now, if commercial teams are involved.
4. Health: A Missing but Critical Lever
While nature and climate were discussed, the connection to population health, nutrient density and healthier ingredients was largely absent. This is a missed opportunity. Better farming practices can drive better health outcomes. Aligning procurement, R&D, and investment with nutrient density and GLP premiums could make health a key driver of transformation - not just a downstream effect.
5. What Needs to Happen Next
Farmers are delivering public value but can’t keep absorbing the cost. Without fairer contracts or reassurances to purchase above cost of production, we risk losing supply chain diversity, local resilience and long-term food security. The people with power to change this (category directors, buying teams, finance leaders, procurement heads) need to also be in the room. Farmer engagement may sit with Ag teams, but fairness and resilience are commercial responsibilities too.
6. Future Food Movement’s role
We’re here to connect dots between farm reality and boardroom decisions.
7. The signal in 2026
Resilience is no longer just a farm issue, it’s a business leadership test. If industry doesn’t help make farming viable, ethical and future-fit, the system will keep shedding capacity and trust. But if we act now, with fairness, urgency and partnership, there’s still time to protect UK agriculture to support food security.
Recommended reading:
Future Food Movement: Deep dive into key themes and actions (download)
Baroness Batters’ review: Farmer Profitability Review (download)
Dr Louise Manning & OFC: Grasping the Opportunities Report (download)
To discuss how these insights, opportunities and risks impact your business, speak to Future Food Movement.