- About Integrated Farm Management
- Our LEAF Network of Demonstration Farms & Innovation Centres
- Resources
- LEAF Sustainable Farming Review
- LEAF Endorsed Advisors & Consultants
- Our Projects & Partnerships
- Nature Based Solutions to Climate Change
- Beacons of Excellence
- Resilient & Ready
- Accelerating & Demonstrating the Journey to Net-Zero
LEAF Conference 2026
29th Jan 2026
New Frontiers: Regenerative Agriculture, the Power of Public Engagement and the Data Revolution
New Frontiers: Regenerative Agriculture, the Power of Public Engagement and the Data Revolution
Date: Thursday 29 January 2026
Time: 10:00 - 16:00 GMT
Location: BNP Paribas, London
Chair: Tom Heap, BBC Journalist and Author
The LEAF Conference brought together leading farmers, scientists, policy makers, technologists, and food system thinkers for a powerful day exploring the shifts reshaping our sector. Across three focused panels, we examined whether regenerative farming represents a revolution, an evolution or a deeper cultural transition; we delved into how public engagement can drive meaningful change in human and planetary health; and we uncovered the transformative potential of high-quality data - its capacity, the culture needed to use it well, and the change it can unlock. Together, these conversations chart the emerging frontiers that will define a more resilient, connected and more sustainable future for global food and farming systems.
Our Keynote Speakers:
John Shropshire OBE DL FRAgS
Chairman, G's Fresh Group
Dr Elliott Grant
CEO, Mineral & Visiting Fellow, University of Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing
Our Panellists:
Professor Janet Dwyer, Professor of Rural Policy, Countryside and Community Research Institute, at the University of Gloucestershire
Jake Freestone, Farm Manager, Overbury Enterprises, LEAF Demonstration Farmer & LEAF Trustee
Lucy Harler, Future Farming Manager, G’s Group
Dan Stevenson BVSc MSc, Head of Sustainable Farming, LEAF
Dr Tom Pearson, Regenerative farmer in West Cambridgeshire
Professor Carol Wagstaff, Pro Vice Chancellor for Research (Agriculture, Food and Health), University of Reading
Dr Johnny Wake, Managing Partner at Courteenhall Farms & LEAF Trustee
Nick Evans, Co-founder and Managing Director, Oxbury Bank
Judith Batchelar OBE, Founder, Food Matters International Ltd
Carl Edwards, Director of Communication, Engagement and Education, LEAF
David Farrell, CEO and founding partner of Blue North Sustainability
Clare Mike, Director, LEAF Marque and International Development
Dr Tara Garnett, Director of Table, University of Oxford
David Hutchinson, Chairman, Hutchinson Group & Director HL Hutchinson Ltd
Christine Knipe, Experience Director, RASE
Michael Sly MBE, Partner and Farms Director, Park Farm
The conference focused on three broad themes:
Panel 1:
Regenerative Farming - Revolution, Evolution or Cultural Transition?
This panel explored the practical realities of regenerative agriculture - both in the UK and internationally - and the benefits it can bring to farm businesses within an Integrated Farm Management (IFM) approach. Speakers discussed how these techniques are being applied on the ground, the operational and environmental gains they offer, and the mindset shifts that support successful transition, recognising the role of farmers’ motivations, experience, and autonomy in driving change.
Panel 2:
Forging Connections - the Role of Public Engagement in Farming, Food & Health.
As we prepare to celebrate 20 years of Open Farm Sunday in 2026, this panel looked at the powerful role of public engagement in helping communities understand where their food comes from, how it's grown, and why it matters. We examined the drivers needed to rebuild trust in food systems to deepen public understanding and inspire more informed, sustainable choices.
Panel 3:
Beautiful Data - Capacity, Culture & Change.
This session explored the critical role of data and digital tools in accelerating sustainable agriculture at a global scale. From AI-driven analytics to real-time on-farm monitoring, data holds enormous promise, we questioned: how do we bridge the gap between potential and practical application, ensuring that insights translate into real, meaningful change on the ground?
