News

DiverIMPACTS Crop diversification, workload and quality of life
18th Jan 2021
A new survey led by ORC hopes that through improving understanding of the impact of crop diversification on workload and quality of life we can provide recommendations for policy makers, training and education providers and…
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ORFC Global highlights
15th Jan 2021
As the dust settles on the huge global phenomenon that was the 12th Oxford Real Farming Conference we highlight on some of the sessions ORC were involved with (directly or indirectly). All sessions were recorded…
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Organisations unite against neonicotinoids decision
12th Jan 2021
On the 8th January a request by British Sugar and the NFU to get an emergency derogation to use neonicotinoids in sugar beet was approved. Given the evidence of unacceptable harm to wildlife (especially bees)…
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HRH Prince Charles launches the Terra Carta (Earth Charter)
12th Jan 2021
ORC welcomes the launch of the Terra Carta from HRH The Prince of Wales’ Sustainable Markets Initiative. The Terra Carta provides a roadmap to 2030 for businesses to move towards an ambitious and sustainable future;…
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What do you think about growing pulses in UK agriculture post-BREXIT??
11th Jan 2021
Is it a realistic option? We are interested in your views If we want to develop more sustainable agricultural systems for the UK then we need to focus on their sustainability, their impact on the…
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‘The Big Farming Survey’ – RABI to deliver insight into impacts on farming people
11th Jan 2021
Today (January 11th 2021), RABI launches the largest ever research project relating to wellbeing of farming people. This wide-ranging survey will consider for the first time the relationship between physical health, mental wellbeing and health…
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Diagram of a piece of DNA being removed by tweezers.

Consultation on future of gene editing launched by Environment Secretary at Oxford Farming Conference
7th Jan 2021
Plans to consult on gene editing, which according to Defra 'could unlock substantial benefits to nature, the environment and help farmers with crops resistant to pests, disease or extreme weather and to produce healthier, more…
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Preparing the Evidence Base for Post-Brexit agriculture in Scotland - Case studies on alternative payments
7th Jan 2021
This report led by the Organic Policy, Business and Research Consultancy, with ORC, SRUC and IEEP on the future public good agricultural policy options for Scotland including organic farming, agroforestry and rewilding has now been…
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2nd International Conference on Biodynamic Research
5th Jan 2021
Growing beyond resilience The 2nd International Conference on Biodynamic Research will take place digitally from 30th August to 2nd September 2021. The theme for the upcoming conference is “Growing beyond Resilience”. Academic and farmer practitioner…
Posted in Events, News and events
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ORFC Global 2021
21st Dec 2020
The Oxford Real Farming Conference goes global and online for January 2021! Working with partners around the world, ORFC Global brings together voices from the real food and farming movement across six continents. The programme…
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Intercropping for sustainability
19th Dec 2020
DIVERSify and ReMIX team up with the Association of Applied Biologists to host this joint event online The conference, organised by the DIVERSify and ReMIX H2020 projects as well as the Association of Applied Biologists…
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Farewell to Sally Westaway
17th Dec 2020
This week we say goodbye to the wonderful Sally Westaway. Sally has worked within the ORC’s agroforestry team on a range of projects since 2013. The last 7 years have been so much fun and…
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Farming the Future 2020: New projects for ORC
17th Dec 2020
ORC is pleased to be partners in two projects funded by Farming the Future's Year 2 Grant-pool. A National Network of Agroforestry Farms and Influencing Policy to Support Farm Woodland and Agroforestry from the Ground-up…
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Effective weed management strategies for UK organic arable crops
16th Dec 2020
Oxfordshire organic farmer Philip Day, is conducting a survey of UK organic arable farmers, as part of his MSc in Organic Farming at SRUC, Aberdeen, to assess how they manage weeds in their crops.  The…
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A Christmas message from Lucy MacLennan
15th Dec 2020
https://youtu.be/tuNQK77SROg Our Chief Executive Officer Lucy MacLennan with a Christmas message for our friends and supporters
Posted in News, News and events, Uncategorised
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Ramial woodchip production and use on farm
15th Dec 2020
Woodchip can increase soil organic matter, water holding capacity and nutrient levels of soils. Senior Agroforestry Researcher Sally Westaway reflects on the conclusions and outputs of the WOOdchip for Fertile Soils (WOOFS) project. Contractor spreading…
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Cows grazing under trees

Agroforestry and the Basic Payment Scheme
11th Dec 2020
ORC welcomes the recognition by the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) of the benefits of agroforestry with new guidance on how agroforestry can be compatible with the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS). This is a major breakthrough…
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Agroforestry: Trees on upland farms webinar
7th Dec 2020
Agroforestry webinar, led by the Soil Association, as part of the WRFFC Conference which was held from 16-19th Nov 2020. Speakers include Tim Pagella (Bangor University), Dr Lindsay Whistance (Organic Research Centre) and Gareth Davies…
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Roadmap to a greener farming future
7th Dec 2020
ORC welcomes Defra's roadmap for a transition to deliver a better, fairer farming system in England. We strongly support the participatory approach and are involved in three of Defra's Environmental Land Management 'Test and Trials'.…
Posted in News, News and events, Policy
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UK organic Control Bodies recognised by EU but uncertainty remains
4th Dec 2020
The EU Commission has approved a regulation to recognise all six of the UK organic Control Bodies as certifying to an equivalent EU standard until 31 December 2021, for the purpose of trade in organics.…
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We want to hear from you!
30th Nov 2020
Complete our survey and win a bottle of wine! At the ORC, we are always looking at ways to strengthen our communication and make sure you as a reader receive the most interesting and relevant…
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Impact of Flock Health Clubs
30th Nov 2020
New paper published in ‘Livestock Science’ this month. The article assesses how Flock Health Clubs improve farmer-vet relationships and measures of flock health & welfare. The paper's authors include ORC's Marion Johnson and Nicola Noble…
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Organic Research Centre builds on research focus with the appointment of Dr Will Simonson
5th Nov 2020
The Organic Research Centre (ORC) has announced the appointment of Dr Will Simonson as the new Head of Research.  Dr Simonson replaces Dr Bruce Pearce, who stepped down from the role last month after 21…
Posted in News, News and events, Press Releases
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Growing an organic partnership
23rd Oct 2020
A unique postgraduate course in Organic Farming is celebrating its 20th year at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC). The MSc programme, run in an online format since 2002, is delivered by SRUC in partnership with the…
Posted in News and events, Press Releases
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