Described by organiser the South of England Agricultural Society (SEAS) as “one of the most urgent questions of our time”, this year’s farming conference will explore how farming can “survive and thrive in an era defined by volatility and change”.

The 2025 conference will take place on Wednesday 12 November at the South of England Showground in Ardingly, West Sussex, and will be titled: Adapting with Purpose: Farming in a Changing World.

Led once again by the highly respected Charlotte Smith, broadcaster and presenter of BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today, the conference will bring together leading voices in agriculture to tackle this important issue.

The society points out: “The familiar pillars that have underpinned British agriculture for generations are shifting. Subsidies are fading into history. Global markets are in flux. Extreme weather is no longer an occasional disruption but an escalating threat.

“Farmers today stand at the frontline of these converging pressures, forced to navigate a landscape where certainty is scarce and resilience is paramount.

“Yet with challenge comes opportunity. New technologies, fresh thinking, and alternative business models are emerging that could transform not just how we farm, but how we define success itself.

“In this conference, we will ask: Which farming models are truly fit for purpose in this unpredictable world? What does resilience look like when the old certainties have gone? And can the industry afford to cling to tradition, or is it time to back bolder, more radical alternatives?”

Confirmed speakers are:

  • Helen Browning OBE, chief executive of the Soil Association and a pioneering organic farmer. Helen brings decades of experience, including from her time running the organic family farm in Wiltshire and as a member of the Curry Commission on the Future of Farming. Her work has focused on healthy soils and landscapes and championing high standards of animal welfare, particularly developing innovative organic pig systems.
  • John Gregson, UK general manager at Regenified and passionate advocate for regenerative agriculture. His career has spanned journalism, commodity trading and senior roles at Waitrose including communication, agriculture, public affairs, ethics and sustainability. John’s upbringing on a 100-acre tenant farm in West Lancashire has shaped his lifelong commitment to the vital role smaller and family farms play in the food system and the transition to regenerative agriculture.
  • Richard Means, managing partner at Ceres Rural and a Norfolk farmer. Richard advises farms on productivity, sustainability and resilience, as well as running his own 650-hectare business. He’s a Fellow of the Institute of Agricultural Management and qualified in BASIS, FACTS, BETA and FAAV. Richard is actively involved in national farming trials including ADAS YEN and Kellogg’s Origins, and brings governance experience from roles with CAAV, IAgrM, GWCT and as Chair of Fengrain during its financial restructure and sale.

SEAS added: “This will not be a comfortable conversation. Expect challenges to convention, critical reflection on received wisdom and an exploration of ideas that push beyond the familiar. The goal is to inspire and provoke farmers, landowners, advisors, policymakers and those involved in the wider food system to think differently.”

Duncan Rawson, a Nuffield Scholar sponsored by the society and the chair of the conference organising committee, said: “At a time when so many forces are conspiring to make farming harder, it has never been more important to create spaces for honest reflection, constructive debate and shared learning.

“This conference will provide an opportunity to step back, ask searching questions and reimagine what farming could and should be in a world where change is the only constant. We look forward to an energising and essential discussion at this pivotal moment. Together, let us chart a course toward a farming future that is adaptive, innovative and purposeful.”

The South of England Agricultural Society Farming Conference will run from 7pm to 9pm on Wednesday 12 November 2025, with networking and refreshments available from 6pm to 10pm for those attending in person.

The conference is FREE to attend, in person or online, but visitors must register at www.seas.org.uk/farming-conference