ORFC 2022: Rise in Covid cases forces event to go virtual
© ORFC The 2022 Oxford Real Farming Conference will take place virtually in January after rapidly increasing coronavirus cases forced the cancellation of the face-to-face event.
The organisers released a statement explaining that with “heavy hearts” they had decided to move ORFC 2022 entirely online.
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“Unfortunately, with the rapidly increasing covid cases and anticipated restrictions over the coming weeks, we feel that an in-person event of this scale at the beginning of January is no longer possible,” said the statement.
“This means there will not be an in-person ORFC in January.”
Physical OFC ‘still on’
Earlier this week, the organisers of the Oxford Farming Conference (OFC), which is held at the same time, said they still planned to host an in-person event from 5-7 January 2022.
However, they have put in place additional measures to keep delegates covid-safe, including a covid passport, or confirmation from delegates of a negative lateral flow or PCR test upon arrival.
ORFC organisers say they plan to release details at www.orfc.org.uk of how to access the online conference later on Wednesday (15 December), when the full programme will also be published.
“Our programme of global sessions will continue as planned, so it’s going to be an incredible online line-up again,” continued the statement.
“With the in-person conference now going online, we will be hosting 500 speakers across 135 sessions.
“Whie we are all incredibly disappointed not to be able to see you in person, we are really looking forward to hosting another great online ORFC.”
The Oxford Real Farming Conference acts as an alternative to the Oxford Farming Conference and targets smaller-scale, organic and ecological farmers.