Organic Arable Annual Meeting 2025
When we asked last year's attendees , "How likely are you to recommend other organic farmers to attend the OA Annual Meeting? We are delighted to say 97% said they would!
Programme
We have an exciting programme of speakers covering a broad range of topics from soil health, organic agronomy to novel approaches to soil testing. We will hear about the importance of soil health and a new approach in assessing this fundamental requirement of an organic system. We'll learn about how organic agronomy is developing and some of the new approaches being implemented on farm with interesting results.
We'll have an policy insight and some ideas about how we need to be presenting organic farming systems to extol their benefits to a wider audience.
We're introducing Red Root Biotechnology, a young research group from Cambridge University who are developing a novel soil test to assess your soil's ability to develop arboreal mycorrhizal fungal associations. Still in development this test could help organic farmers understand which management practices benefit and which harm these associations.
Soil Health
We are delighted to be joined by Dr Suzie Haryanti Husain who will provide us with her approach to improving soil health and her experience of developing soil health assessments through the SHE Soil Health Expert framework she has developed.
Better understanding of soil health not only helps you farm better but it also helps communicate the benefits organic farming can deliver.
Organic Agronomy
Tom Tolputt and Will Maris from Terrafarmer will share their experiences of developing and implementing agronomic strategies using permitted organic inputs both chemical and biological to overcome soil deficiencies and boost yields.
Can they help your farm yields?
Policy Update & Thoughts on the Future
Adrian Steele will provide us with his usual insightful view of the politics at Defra and provide hints at where Environmental Stewardship may be heading.
He is increasingly working on how organic can relay what we see and know is happening on our farms to the market.
Novel Approach to Soil Testing
Red Root Biotechnology are three plant scientists from Cambridge University developing a novel soil diagnostic test to help growers optimize their soil health. Our focus is on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) – beneficial soil microbes that form partnerships with plant roots. Research has shown this interaction can lead to increased crop yields, improved disease resistance, and enhanced nutrient uptake. Using engineered plants developed in our lab, we can rapidly test soil samples and provide a quantitative assessment of their ability to support AMF symbiosis. Our diagnostic tool aims to help farmers identify whether this beneficial interaction is being hindered in their soils, enabling them to take targeted actions to maximise soil health.
Some responses from last year's attendees:
"I took something from all the talks, I thought it was a really interesting day, which covered a whole variety of the complex issues that make up organic farming. Thank you for organising it! "
"Thank you for your hospitality. The speakers were interesting and we valued the variety of topics represented."
"Really good day, the best one I remember, thanks. The range of speakers was great, with interesting, short presentations combined with a good opportunity to catch up with colleagues..."