The 60th Oxford Farming Conference, which celebrates the events Diamond Jubilee anniversary, is taking place at Oxford University on the 3rd, 4th and 5th January 2006.

Chaired by Christopher Monk, Head of Strutt & Parker’s Farming Department, key speakers include: Tim Bennet, NFU President; Lord Bach, UK Minister for Sustainable Farming and Food; John Chapple and Oliver Doubleday, who run farming businesses in China and Brazil, respectively; Dennis Avery, Director of Global Food Issues at the Hudson Institute and a range of UK and other European industry leaders and farming pioneers.

This annual agricultural event is recognised as being the platform for strong personalities, provocative ideas, entrepreneurial spirit and a range of independent and international interests which are brought together to shake off the past year and begin a new one.

A key industry forum, not only for farmers, but for all associated with the agricultural industry including interests from law, banking and accountancy to civil servants and NGOs as well as fostering and sponsoring many young “scholars”

Says Christopher Monk, “This year has seen the introduction of the CAP reform, with the UK far ahead of most other member states in terms of implementing a decoupled payment scheme. Meanwhile, government has already been talking of new reforms.

“Environmental pressures are rising and an energy crisis looms. Food production is now globalised and the World Trade Organisation is making important decisions that will have a profound impact on the volume of imports. We have to address important issues, such as what the consumer really wants, and what the world will support.

“As a nation we have been at the forefront of change so too can Oxford provide one of the best forums for dealing with it – profitably, in all senses of the word,” says Mr Monk.

He adds “As a council, we feel very strongly that we must continue to foster a high proportion of farmer delegates, and those coming up behind them in the next generation. In order to make Oxford more accessible to them we will be offering a new package, available only to farmers, at a reduced registration fee.”