The Organic Growers Alliance (OGA) is pleased to announce the second Organic Matters conference. It held the first Organic Matters in 2019 to facilitate the exchange of technical information within the industry through speaker sessions and networking opportunities. The conference will be a day-long event for experienced horticulturalists and new entrants based at Stretford Public Hall in Manchester on the 13th October 2021.
The event will have a 'Northern' theme running through it with presentations from experienced growers in the region and an emphasis on building the organic market in the North. There will be an opportunity to visit organic growing projects locally on the day after the conference.
Pete Richardson, Chair of the OGA said: “Organic Matters fills a vital gap for technical information in the UK horticulture sector – but will also provide the important function of growers meeting and learning from each other. The OGA is committed to supporting the horticulture sector by bringing together expertise, best practice and innovation from across the industry. We want this conference to support the relationships between experienced growers and new entrants and for that reason we will be keeping ticket prices affordable, and bursaries are also available.”
The conference is sponsored by Dejex and Riverford Organic Farmers and delivered in partnership with Agricology, CSA Network UK, Ecological Land Co-operative, Innovative Farmers, the Kindling Trust, Landworkers Alliance, Organic Research Centre and the Soil Association. Additional support has been provided by the Biodynamic Agricultural College, Real Seeds, Unicorn Grocery, Chelsea Green, Coventry University, Leary’s Organic Seeds, OF&G, Skea Organics, Seed Co-operative, Treffler and Organic North.
An expanded range of workshops will be held* including:
- Does organic matter? Organic certification or not?
- Field scale weed control - panel of experts.
- Contentious inputs in organic horticulture
- Food quality and health in organic systems
- The latest on ELMS for horticulture/agroforestry
- Winter growing - extending the season
- Organic amendments and cover crops: Improving soil health and reducing tillage using compost, woodchip and green manures
- Organic flower growing: meeting the demand for British sustainable flowers
- Seed growing - challenges and opportunities in the North
- FarmHack. Home-made tools for improved growing systems
- Alternatives to plastic mulches
- Uniting the supply chain: Launching the Robust UK Potato Pledge
* programme subject to change; please check the OGA website page
OGA will hear from inspirational projects working to grow organic growers and reflect on the prospects for organic growth in the North.
OGA is committed to this being a face-to-face event, though circumstances around the Covid pandemic may change. OGA will also be providing an online option for people to participate remotely.
For full information about the conference, click here.
A limited number of press passes are available.
Please contact hello@organicgrowersalliance.co.uk
For more information: 
Holly Jarvis
Organic Growers Alliance
Web: organicgrowersalliance.co.uk
Instagram: @organicgrowersalliance
Twitter: @OGAgrowers