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Real Farming Trust

@realfarmingtrust

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Good food for everyone, forever 🌱
Transforming our food system from the grassroots up #agroecology #foodsovereighty

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Yesterday we marched with growers, food system workers and activists as part of the movement for food sovereignty at the Food in Our Hands demo in London 🌱🍓✊ #fioh25

We marched together to demand a legally enshrined Right to Food for all which ensures that everyone has access to nutritious, ecologically produced and culturally appropriate food, regardless of their location, income, identity or legal status.

‘Food In Our Hands’ is a movement of movements. It’s our collective struggle to transform the food and land use system, and it’s our answer to the Nyéléni call to action for systemic transformation: Now or Never! from La Via Campesina, the international alliance of peasant farmers. @la_via_campesina_official @ecvc_viacampesina @landworkersalliance by @realfarmingtrust

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a year ago

📣 Deadline Extended for LEAP Investment

If you’re a UK-based food or farming enterprise rooted in agroecological values, and looking for loan finance of up to £100k, consider applying to LEAP. We’ve extended the application window and widened who can apply.

Who’s it for? Values-led businesses across the food system — growers, bakers, butchers, retailers, distributors, surplus champions and more. And new this round: companies limited by guarantee are now eligible.

What’s included?
* 🌱 Blended finance, including social-impact grants
* 🤝 One-to-one mentoring with people who understand agroecology
* 🌟 Ongoing support as you grow

In the words of previous investees:
“You were the only lender that helped us think beyond the numbers.” “It wasn’t just about the money — it was the sense of being backed by people who actually understood our world.”
🗓 Apply by 29 July 
🔗 Learn more & submit your Expression of Interest: https://realfarming.org/programmes/leap/register-interest/

#agroecologyuk #ethicalbusiness #regenerativefarming #realbread #pastureforlife #shortsupplychains #goodfood #leapfund #realfarmingtrust #communityfood #valuesledbusiness by @realfarmingtrust

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a year ago

In conversation with Robert Fraser, Executive Director of the Real Farming Trust and one of the leading organisers of the Oxford Real Farming Conference 🌱

Robert is also a livestock farmer, and has been deeply involved in projects that support agroecological food systems in practical ways, including mentoring, financing and the Real Farming Trust’s work to help new entrants find a foothold in farming 🌾

For anyone unfamiliar, there are two farming conferences taking place in Oxford at the start of January. The Oxford Real Farming Conference is the one rooted in ecology, fairness and real food, bringing together farmers, growers, cooks, researchers and citizens who care about the future of the land 🌍

#ORFC26 taken in Oxford, Oxfordshire by @realfarmingtrust

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9 months ago

We’re proud to report that two LEAP supported businesses are finalists in the BBC Food and Farming Awards 2026, and wish them both the very best of luck.
Fresh Flour Company, a worker-owned organic stone mill in Devon, is shortlisted for Best Food Producer, turning heritage grains into flour, crackers, biscuits and pasta while paying farmers the prices they ask.

Plymouth’s Sole of Discretion is shortlisted for the Food Innovation Award, connecting customers with responsibly caught fish while supporting small-scale fishers and their communities.
LEAP helps businesses like these develop, combining patient finance with practical support to build a more sustainable food system.

Could LEAP support your food business? We offer loans of up to £100,000 for agroecologically aligned businesses working with short supply chains, alongside business mentoring, a social impact grant normally worth 15% of the loan amount, and ongoing support from our team.

Applications are open and run on a quarterly cycle. Submit an expression of interest by 20 October to be considered at the December meeting of our Investment Committee. The full application process typically takes 3–6 months, meaning funds could be available for drawdown in March 2027.

Find out more about LEAP and submit your expression of interest through the link in our bio.

#Agroecology #SustainableFood #FoodAndFarmingAwards #RealFarmingTrust by @realfarmingtrust

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3 days ago

Calling all growers and farmers who are looking for inspiration to do things differently ✨

We caught up with Sam Beaumont, who farms Gowbarrow Hall Farm with his wife Clare. They transitioned their land from an intensive agricultural system, to an organic, lower stocked, regenerative grazing approach that gives back to the soil, all while producing good food for the community.

One of the catalysts for changing their farm management was coming to the Oxford Real Farming Conference. Connecting with other people who are wanting to nourish their soil, crops and communities - and hearing inspiring stories of farmers successfully building resilient ways of working - gave Sam the confidence to make changes at Gowbarrow Hall Farm.

If you’re a farmer, grower or landworker looking to join a community of land stewards producing good food for generations to come, head to the ORFC website and book your reduced price Farmer ticket!

@thefarmingbeaumonts by @realfarmingtrust

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3 days ago

How would you describe two days of over 2000 people from across the agroecology movement gathering to discuss a shared vision for the future of food and farming?

We asked the team behind the ORFC to describe the conference in three words. It’s no surprise that energising, inspiring and hopeful came back multiple times. We hope you’ll join us in January and find out for yourself!

Tickets including subsidised (only 5 left!!) and farmer are available on our website.

Let us know your three favourite words to describe ORFC in the comments ⬇️ by @realfarmingtrust

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4 days ago

Every spring and autumn the RFT team gathers to share successes, brainstorm challenges, and most importantly, reconnect with the land and with each other.

This week we had the pleasure of spending a few days in the beautiful Lake District with Claire and Sam at Gowbarrow Hall Farm. From hearing about how they designed the farm around a 12,000 year old glacial gill to discussing their future plans for a walled fruit forest, we were deeply inspired by the story of Gowbarrow and their commitment to regenerative co-creation with the landscape.

Some highlights included belly scratches with the kune kune pigs, meeting the majestic shorthorn cattle, taking in the views from the community garden and enjoying delicious farm to fork meals. And of course, no RFT away days are complete without a team sauna and swim, and some very competitive games of bananagrams! taken in Gowbarrow Fell by @realfarmingtrust

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8 days ago

🍎 What we’re eating this October: Apples

Our new seasonal food section is here! We’re welcoming guest contributor Carla Hill, gardener and writer, to explore how what we grow, share and eat connects us with nature and each other.

And where better to start than apples — and the promise of a good crumble?

Drawing on her experience harvesting and pressing apples at Sharpham Trust in Devon, Carla explores what orchards offer beyond fruit: homes for wildlife, places to gather and a chance to reconnect with the land.

Her invitation this October? Discover a London community orchard, join a harvesting or volunteering day, and taste something grown closer to home 🌳

Read Carla’s full article on Substack and subscribe to our newsletter via the link in our bio.

Do you have a favourite local orchard — or an apple variety we should try? Tell us below 👇

#TheGreenLondoner #SeasonalFood #CommunityOrchards #BritishApples #GreenLondon by @realfarmingtrust

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14 days ago

Do you want to learn more about the future of organic arable and practicals lessons from the summer’s drought? 🌾

Are you fascinated by rare and heritage polity, or passionate about land access and funding for agroecological enterprises? 🐓

Curious to understand what a regenerative economy for real farming might look like and how to scale novel crops in the face of climate change? 👩🏽‍🌾

Ready to learn from wisdom keepers and land defenders from the majority world about farming in relationship with an animate world? 🌳🐞

Calling all farmers, growers, activists, artists, policymakers and anyone who believes in good food for all - join us for as the UK’s largest agroecology gathering returns for our 18th year!

Tickets to ORFC 2027, 7-8 January, are available on our website and already selling fast 💨

Head to orfc.org.uk to get yours today and come together to learn and connect with a community transforming food and farming for everyone 💚🌻 by @realfarmingtrust

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19 days ago

Tickets are LIVE for ORFC 2027, and already selling fast!

Join us and be part of the agroecology movement transforming the food and farming system. Farmers, growers, landworkers, activists, artists, policymakers, organisers, chefs, retailers and anyone interested in good food for all - you are welcome!

7-8 January - Oxford, UK & Online

Limited subsidised tickets available - head to our website and get yours before they’re gone! taken in Oxford by @realfarmingtrust

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24 days ago

Can you feel the excitement? 🦋🐾🐑

General tickets for ORFC are now live - book your ticket today to the UK’s largest agroecology gathering this coming 7th - 8th January! 🌾🐝

This year, you can expect conversations on the most pressing topics of our time, from the future of organic arable to practical lessons learned from the summer’s drought. We’ll be hearing about the fight of land defenders from the majority world, exploring the importance of the more-than-human in caring for the land, and discussing how agroecology can meet the challenges of AI, climate change and global shocks.

Together, we’ll consider the innovative farm practice, policy developments, funding opportunities and community mobilisation needed to inspire change towards a future that truly nourishes people and planet 🐞

🌳 Over two full days you can expect 145+ dynamic in-person talks and interactive workshops, including 50+ livestreamed sessions.

Online and in-person tickets are available. ORFC offers a tiered ticketing system to reflect our radical and diverse community; limited farmer, subsidised and online bursary tickets are available.

For more information, and to book your ticket, see the ORFC website. by @realfarmingtrust

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25 days ago

What happens when rural and urban communities are given a chance to connect around food and farming?🥗🏬🧑‍🌾

Our goal at RFT to have good food for everyone, forever, means that food justice is central to our work in supporting the agroecology movement. 🫂

Our Food Justice project, Twinning, which pairs urban social justice organisations working with food with nearby rural Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) schemes, helps us get closer to that goal.

@stroudcommunityagriculture recently hosted families from their Twinned organisation, Somali Kitchen, for a day of outdoor games.

Our Food Justice team attended the event and reflected on the power of joining these previously unconnected communities around food and farming, and on some of the joys that come out of these new relationships. Read the full reflection of the games day at realfarming.org by @realfarmingtrust

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a month ago