HUNDREDS of farmers have descended on Oxford to attend two agricultural conferences.

The sixth Oxford Real Farming Conference runs at the Town Hall, in St Aldate’s, until today.

More than 40 discussions, talks and debates have been lined up for the event, which focuses on ecology and alternatives to agro-industry.

It coincides with the long-established mainstream Oxford Farming Conference running at the Examination Schools in High Street until tomorrow.

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Oxford Real Farming Conference co-founder Colin Tudge said: “It’s been fantastic to see 700 people come through the doors of the Town Hall.

“At the heart of all the world’s affairs – social, political, economic, environmental – sits agriculture. It’s the thing we absolutely have to get right.”

Topics included soil fertility, flooding and the crisis in UK dairy farming.

Among the speakers at the Examination Schools conference is Elizabeth Truss, Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

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