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Farming Today: 04/12/2023 Oxford farming conferences; community meals

04/12/2023 Oxford farming conferences; community meals

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 04/12/2023 Oxford farming conferences; community meals

Farming conferences in Oxford and report on food supply chain. Village community meals.

The Oxford Farming Conference and Oxford Real Farming Conference talk about food chains.
Villagers in Devon host community meals for food, warmth and company.

Hundreds of farmers are gathering in Oxford this week for two major conferences - the Oxford Farming Conference and the Oxford Real Farming Conference. The first was set up in 1936 to exchange ideas among farmers. The second, was founded some 15 years ago as an 'antidote' with more of a focus on organic and re-generative practices.

The Oxford Farming Conference has published a report calling for the whole food supply chain to share the higher costs of food production, and for a stronger commitment by all those involved to work together to cut energy use and become more efficient. We speak to people from both conferences about some of the report's recommendations. It wants more secure contracts for farmers; co-ordinated action from wholesalers, distributors and supermarkets to cut carbon emissions; and more joined-up policy thinking across government, to enable better efficiency in food supplies from farm to fork, across the country.

With the cost of living crisis upon us all, community spaces have opened up to let people spend a few hours away from home to stay warm without the heating bills.  In one Devon village, they’ve gone a step further, and the village hall is serving a free lunch as well.  It’s been running since the end of July, and the volunteer organisers say people have found many more benefits than simply saving money.  

Presenter = Anna Hill
Producer = Rebecca Rooney

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04/12/2023 Oxford farming conferences; community meals

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