Jill Montgomery, NIEL’s Agri-Environment Project Manager attended the Oxford Real Farming Conference (ORFC) on 9^th & 10^th January 2025. ORFC attracts farmers, growers, activists, policymakers and researchers from around the world who are interested in transforming our food system.

Speaking at the event, Jill Montgomery said: “Farmers need a more compelling vision of the future to invest in change.

“While it was encouraging to see other nations recognise Northern Ireland’s achievements in soil health measurement through our Soil Nutrient Health Scheme, I couldn’t help but feel that progress is still needed in agri-environment schemes compared to advancements elsewhere.

“As one Welsh farmer put it: ‘We need Northern Ireland to get its pioneering spirit back’.”

Jill took part in a panel discussion on “Agroecology Across the Four Nations: Unity and Divergence in Approaches”. This discussion can be viewed in full below: