Oxford Real Farming Conference 2026 – IPES-Food was there

On January 8-9, 2026

The Oxford Real Farming Conference (ORFC) is a landmark annual gathering of the real food and farming movement, bringing together farmers, growers, food workers, activists, researchers, and policymakers each January in Oxford, UK, in person and online.

Over two days, thousands of participants advancing agroecology, food sovereignty, and just food systems came together for practical, political, and visionary discussions grounded in real-world experience and collective action.

IPES-Food at ORFC 2026

IPES-Food was proud to be an official programme partner of ORFC 2026, working alongside a powerful alliance of farmer and food movements.

At ORFC 2026, we brought leading analysis, global perspectives, and clear policy pathways into the heart of the conversation. Our sessions connected the dots between geopolitics, trade, fossil fuel dependence, and on-the-ground farming realities, advancing the shift towards just, agroecological, and democratic food systems. Watch them below.

IPES-Food sessions at ORFC 2026

Digital Dilemmas: Who Controls Agtech?

Thursday 8 January | 14:00-15:20 GMT | Catholic Chaplaincy – Newman Room & ONLINE

Digital technologies are rapidly reshaping farming, from AI-driven livestock monitoring to automated weeders. This session explores when digitalisation can support agroecology, where guardrails are needed, and how food movements can reclaim tech sovereignty.

Speakers: Jennifer Clapp, Barbara Van Dyck, Edu H. Nualart, Pat Thomas
Chair: Chantal Wei-Ying Clément

Food, Trade and Turmoil: Navigating Global Disorder

Friday 9 January | 11:00-12:20 GMT | Jesus College Cheng Building – Digital Hub & ONLINE

As tariffs, debt, and aid cuts reshape global markets, food systems are among the first to feel the strain. This session unpacks the current geopolitical moment and explores pathways towards cooperative self-reliance, food sovereignty, and resilient food systems.

Speakers: Jennifer Clapp, Sophia Murphy, Ruchi Tripathi
Chair: Robbie Blake

Book Talk: Countering the Titans of Industrial Agriculture

Friday 9 January | 12:45pm-13.30 GMT | Jesus College Cheng Building – Digital Hub & ONLINE

In this keynote book talk, Jennifer Clapp draws on her new book Titans of Industrial Agriculture to examine the deep roots and consequences of corporate concentration in agricultural inputs, and what this means for farmer agency, sustainability, and food system futures.

Speaker: Jennifer Clapp
Chair: Nicole Pita

State of Global Action on Food and Climate Justice

Thursday 8 January | 16:00-17:30 GMT | Catholic Chaplaincy – Newman Room & ONLINE

After decades of climate negotiations, those most affected by hunger, inequality, and climate breakdown are still waiting for meaningful action. This session assesses the state of food and climate action after COP30 and explores where momentum for a just transition in food and farming is emerging.

Speakers: Anna Lappé, Barbara Hachipuka Banda, Dee Woods, Jyoti Fernandes, Sabrina Espeleta
Chair: Nicole Pita

Time to Get Drastic on Food System Plastics?

Thursday 8 January | 16:00-17:20 GMT | Jesus College Cheng Building – Digital Hub & ONLINE

Plastics are deeply embedded across food systems, with growing impacts on ecosystems, health, and climate. This session examines the full plastics lifecycle and why tackling plastics must be central to agroecological transitions.

Speakers: Jennifer Clapp, Joe Yates, Jo Banner, Bryce Cunningham