The Devon Food Partnership is heading to Oxford in January to attend the Oxford Real Farming Conference for the first time.

The Oxford Real Farming Conference brings together farmers, growers, activists, policymakers, and researchers from around the world who are interested in transforming our food system. The broad programme delves deep into a wide range of food and farming topics such as agroecology, regenerative agriculture, organic farming, and indigenous food and farming systems.

Charlotte Molyneux (Devon Food Partnership lead and Team Manager of the Business Support and Innovation Team at Devon County Council) and Henri Greig (Devon Food Partnership steering group member and co-founder of Pipers Farm) will speak at a workshop titled Local Powers and Levers Driving Agroecology. The discussion, chaired by Sarah Williams (Sustain) and also featuring Mark Walton (Shared Assets), will explore the role that local authorities and food partnerships can play in driving the adoption of agroecological practices. This session will take place on Day 2, Friday 10 January, 9am-10:30am in the Jesus College Cheng Building Seminar Room.

View the full programme on the Oxford Real Farming Conference website

The Royal Bath and West Innovation Prize Fund is offering South West farmers or agricultural advisors two £2,500 bursaries to join the transformative Roots to Regeneration programme. The initiative, sponsored by the Worshipful Company of Grocers, aims to encourage innovation in agricultural business models that address critical challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, soil health, animal welfare, and farmer well-being.

Roots to Regeneration is a two-year-long experiential regenerative agriculture training programme pioneered by Caroline Grindrod and Clare Hill. Its primary aim is to facilitate a ‘whole system’ regenerative shift across the food and farming industry and includes on-farm practical experiences, engaging online learning modules, live sessions featuring guest experts, bi-weekly coaching calls, and dedicated support for farmers.

Applications to the Royal Bath and West Innovation Prize Fund close on Thursday 24 December 2024.

Find out more and apply for the Bath and West Agricultural Innovation Prize Fund

Exeter Seed Bank are looking for workshop leaders, speakers, and stallholders to share their knowledge and passion at the 2025 Exeter Seed Swap. To submit a proposal or learn more, contact exeterseedbank@gmail.com.

Exeter Seed Swap 2025 is taking place on Sunday 2 March 2025 at Positive Light Projects, 184-187 Sidwell Street, Exeter, EX4 6RD. Everyone from curious beginners to seasoned gardeners are welcome for a day of exchanging seeds and cultivating community.

Find out more about the Exeter Seed Swap 2025

SHAKE Climate Change are looking for founders and early stage ventures with exciting, original, and viable business ideas in agriculture and food production. Up to £125k of funding is available along with two years of expert mentoring.

Now in its fourth year, the Programme is hosted and led by Rothamsted Research and helps entrepreneurs and start-ups who are combating climate change with science or tech-based ideas in the areas of agriculture and food production.

Applications for the next SHAKE Climate Change programme cohort are open until Monday 6 January 2025.

Read more about the SHAKE Climate Change Programme and apply  

Join Zero Miles Gardens for a workshop exploring how permaculture and its principles can help guide our community growing spaces to thrive by growing abundance. In addition, the workshop will explore how permaculture can help create strong and positive group dynamics. The workshop will be led by Tess Wilmot, a permaculture designer and facilitator from Food Plymouth.

For booking or further information, contact zeromilegardens@gmail.com

Rootstock is a one day conference for farmers in the South West to discuss forward-looking, profitable, sustainable farming in tune with natural processes. Sessions will be based around contextualised science, with speakers being a mixture of expert scientists and practical farmers. The conference will inform, explore, and question current farming trends and the latest technical developments. Early bird tickets for farmers and DCAA members are now available. General sale tickets will be available in January.

Visit the Rootstock website

The AFN Network+’s third ‘Big Tent’ Event takes place in Manchester on March 11th and 12th. The ‘Big Tent’ is the annual meeting of the Network and an opportunity for participants to hear from, and engage with, researchers, business leaders, policy-makers and voluntary organisations working for change in the agri-food system to meet the UK’s net zero 2050 goal. The programme is designed around inclusivity and involvement, maximising the opportunities for networking between participants, with a mix of keynote talks, panel sessions, and breakout discussions.

Register your place on Eventbrite