Thrings is proud to continue its longstanding commitment to the Oxford Farming Conference, as this year’s event turns its attention to the theme “Facing Change, Finding Opportunity”.
Returning on Wednesday 8 January, the pre-eminent agricultural conference, held over three days, brings together individuals and businesses from the farming and food sectors to encourage a diverse range of thinking and generate ideas and positive solutions for the future.
This year’s conference will explore how current and future farming policies provide new opportunities for farmers and how, with the help of science and new practices, the sector can adapt to the changing natural world, as well as how change and adversity can result in innovation.
With more than a century of experience in the rural sector, Thrings is proud to continue its support for the conference, this year both as an overall event sponsor and as a sponsor for the renowned OFC debate and post-debate supper – alongside Savills and the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust.
This year’s conference debate, the cornerstone event on the agenda, will consider the motion: “This house believes that UK agriculture needs more grazing livestock, rather than fewer, to be truly sustainable”.
Proposed by Professor Jude Capper, Professor of Sustainable Beef and Sheep Production at Harper Adams University and Rob Havard, ecologist and owner of Phepson Angus, they will be challenged by opposers Henry Dimbleby, Co-Founder of Bramble Partners and Colin Ferguson, partner of P Ferguson and Co, and NFU Scotland Dairy Vice Chairman.
Duncan Sigournay, Thrings’ Head of Agriculture, said: “We are pleased to continue our long-running association with the Oxford Farming Conference, an event steeped in history but continuing to look forward in tackling the most pressing issues faced by the sector. Our team will again be out in force at the conference.
“This year’s theme is extremely pertinent, with the sector facing an overwhelming array of challenges including the fallout from the recent Budget and, now more than ever, needs to come together to find the opportunities that can overcome them. As ever, we are thoroughly looking forward to the debate, with the motion set to result in a fascinating exchange.”
Thrings’ Agriculture team is one of the largest of its kind in the UK with decades of experience in successfully supporting its farming and landowner clients to achieve their aims and the potential for their business. Its lawyers are ranked in the highest tier by both the prestigious Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners directories and have been chosen by the NFU to act for its members in more countries than any other firm.
Find out more about how we can support farmers, food producers and rural communities on our Information for Farmers page.
