All change: The new chair of the Oxford Farming Conference admits to “encouraging food production at any cost” when he was a young agronomist. Geoff Sansome reflects on the changing face of farming – and finding opportunity from it …
When Geoff Sansome takes to the stage as chair of the 2025 Oxford Farming Conference it will be 31 years since he first attended the event.
He applauds previous chairs for bringing the annual gathering – sometimes kicking and screaming – into the 21st century and for his tenure he has chosen the theme Facing change, finding opportunity.
“Be it post Brexit, the shift from the Basic Payment Scheme, or the fact we will have had a general election, along with ongoing global conflicts and challenges like climate, I have never known such a time of change facing farming,” explains Geoff.
“However, this massive period of change also brings opportunities. There are huge advances in science and a whole new generation of people involved in agriculture who are not carrying any of the baggage of the past, and are prepared to get stuck in.”
“It’s a huge honour to be OFC 2025 chair. I am already enjoying talking to speakers. I am also looking forward to those lightbulb moments that delegates will have, when they learn something new, meet inspiring people and are inspired to look at things through a different lens.
The Oxford Farming Conference will take place from January 8th to 10th 2025.
