Following the latest announcement of covid protocols directors of the Oxford Farming Conference have announced that the Oxford Farming Conference will go ahead, as an in-person event from January 5-7, 2022, unless further change in guidelines necessitates cancellation.
Barbara Bray and Sarah Mukherjee, Joint Co-Chairs of the 2022 Conference, outlined the additional measures being put in place to keep delegates safe. They said:
“We are so looking forward to seeing everyone face-to-face in Oxford next year. It has been a very difficult 18 months for everyone, and we want to make sure that delegates feel as safe and secure as possible when meeting.
“For that reason, we are putting the following measures in place:
- We will require a Covid passport, or PCR test, from all delegates upon arrival and registration.
2. We will also expect delegates with a Covid passport to have completed a daily Lateral Flow Test (LFT), register it on the Government’s website and show the confirmation text message received on arrival at the OFC venues.
3. Do not attend the event if you need to self-isolate, if you are displaying any symptoms or have been asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, are required to isolate after travel, or because they are displaying any COVID-19 symptoms.
4. Delegates will be required to wear masks whilst moving around all OFC venues.
5. Hand sanitiser is located throughout the venue, and delegates encouraged to use frequently.
6. We are investing in HEPA filters, which remove airborne viruses and bacteria, for all OFC venues.
7. Ventilation throughout the venue will also be via windows and doors. In the colder times, windows will be closed during talks, and then opened during breaks.
8. The Examination Schools staff will be carrying out increased touch point cleaning and catering will be Covid compliant.
9. Distancing is not mandatory, but advised to allow for personal space where possible
10. We have previously announced that OFC numbers will be limited by one third to give delegates more physical space. Added to this, delegates will be able to watch the conference in two additional rooms to the main auditorium if they feel safer in a more spacious environment.
“We hope that these measures will reassure delegates that we are taking their health and safety extremely seriously. However, this will mean that it will take longer than usual to enter the OFC venues and to register. We will have extra registration points which will ease any congestion, but please allow as much time as possible to register on your first day, and to gain access to the Oxford University Examination School, the Oxford Union and dinner venues on subsequent days.
“The OFC’s insurance deems that full refunds for conference tickets will only be given if the UK government enforces any measures that prevent the conference from going ahead.”The Oxford Farming Conference will take place from 5 to 7 January 2022, focused on the theme “Routes to Resilience. Delegates have the option to attend in Oxford or online. Tickets are now on sale at www.ofc.org.uk
