Rebuilding Recovery and Agri-Food Resilience Forum - Wednesday 28 October 2026 start

Rebuilding Recovery and Agri-Food Resilience Forum - Wednesday 28 October 2026 - Friday 30 October 2026

The next decade will be defined by a series of interconnected challenges: food security, supply-chain resilience, AI adoption, environmental recovery, manufacturing productivity, geopolitical instability and climate adaptation.

At the same time, advances in artificial intelligence, geospatial intelligence, robotics, digital twins and data infrastructure are creating unprecedented opportunities to solve complex problems at scale.

The challenge is no longer whether technology can help. The challenge is how we bring together the right data, people, organisations and investment to build solutions that matter.

The Rebuilding Recovery & Agri-Food Resilience Forum brings together leaders from technology, food manufacturing, agriculture, government, investment and research for a highly interactive residential event focused on collaboration, innovation and action.

How are we different to a conference?

Conferences optimise for presentations, our forum is optimised for conversations.

From Mission labs, executive salons and strategy breakouts to leadership roundtables and networking events, our forum creates a unique environment where leaders can explore major challenges, challenge assumptions, develop partnerships and identify practical opportunities for action.

Why our forum?

The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) sits at the intersection of agriculture, land use, environmental resilience and innovation.

Through its Ukraine Recovery Programme, RAU and its partners have collected and analysed samples across conflict-affected agricultural land, creating what the UN Food and Agriculture Organization has identified as the world’s largest known dataset of war-related soil contamination. Read more about the programme here. 

This work provides a unique foundation for discussions around recovery, resilience and the future of food systems.

Our 2026 forum programme

28 October 2026

Recovery Mission Labs for Innovators

A challenge-led innovation forum for technology companies, researchers, startups, corporates and investors.

Not a hackathon. Not another conference. Using real-world challenges and datasets, participants will explore how emerging technologies can support environmental restoration, agricultural resilience and post-conflict recovery.

Our mission themes will be:

• AI for Recovery
• Environmental Intelligence
• Future Food Systems
• Digital Twins & Decision Support
• Recovery Finance
• Climate-Smart Reconstruction

Executive Salon Dinner (Invitation Only)

The Executive Forum opens with an intimate salon dinner bringing together innovators, investors and industry leaders. Selected Mission Lab teams will then present the most promising ideas, collaborations and opportunities that emerged during the day, followed by facilitated discussions exploring:

• AI and Food Systems
• Future Manufacturing
• Resilient Supply Chains
• Recovery and Regeneration
• Investment Opportunities
• The Future of Food Security

29 October 2026

Strategic Briefings

We will run short, high-impact sessions covering:

• Artificial Intelligence
• Manufacturing Transformation
• Robotics & Automation
• Food Security
• Cyber Resilience
• Environmental Intelligence
• Investment Trends
• Supply Chain Risk

Executive Panel

Titled ‘What Should Leaders Be Watching Now?’, our executive panel will be a forward-looking discussion focused on the challenges and opportunities that will shape the next three to five years.

Strategy Breakouts

We will hold strategy breakouts during which participants choose one discussion stream:

• AI & Digital Agriculture
• Future Food Manufacturing
• Cyber & Operational Resilience
• Recovery, Soil Health & Regenerative Systems

Executive Leadership Salons

We will hold small-group discussions examining the questions:

• What are we underestimating?
• Which technologies are reaching commercial inflection points?
• Which risks are being ignored?
• Where will the next major opportunities emerge?

Beer, Hops & Food Sovereignty Evening

This is our networking event with purpose, hosted by Will Rogers and Professor Duncan Westbury of the RAU.

Through guided beer tastings, local food pairings and strategic discussion, participants will explore how food sovereignty, supply-chain resilience, agricultural diversification and domestic production are becoming increasingly important strategic priorities. Using British hops as a lens, discussions will cover:

• Future Food Systems
• UK Supply Chains
• Manufacturing
• Investment
• AI and Innovation
• Sustainability
• Land Use

30 October 2026

Strategic Agri-Food Unconference

The final day is entirely participant-led. Attendees propose the conversations they believe matter most and collectively build the agenda. Potential topics include:

• Food Security
• AI Adoption
• Future Manufacturing
• Agricultural Robotics
• Water & Resource Security
• Future Ingredients
• Supply Chain Resilience
• Workforce Transformation
• Recovery Technologies
• Investment Opportunities

Opportunity Labs

We will move beyond discussion to identify:

• New Partnerships
• Pilot Projects
• Research Collaborations
• Commercial Opportunities
• Industry Initiatives

Closing Forum

A final session focused on the most promising ideas, partnerships and actions emerging from the Forum.

Pricing

Mission Labs (28 October 2026)

For innovators, start-ups, technology companies, researchers, corporates and investors.

• Standard rate: £295 + VAT 

Includes:

• Full-day Mission Labs programme
• Refreshments and lunch
• Access to challenge datasets and workshops
• Mission Labs networking reception

Contact us at farm491@rau.ac.uk to register interest. 

• Subsidised rate: £195+VAT

To encourage participation from emerging innovators, a limited number of subsidised places are available for start-ups, scale-ups, university spin-outs and early-stage ventures.

This is subject to application and availability. 

Contact us at farm491@rau.ac.uk to register interest. 

Executive Forum (28–30 October 2026 – Invite only)

For senior leaders across food manufacturing, agriculture, technology, investment, government and research.

• Early Partner Rate: £1,495 + VAT
• Standard Delegate Rate: £1,995 + VAT

Includes:

• Executive Salon Dinner (28 October)
• Full Executive Forum programme
• Beer, Hops & Food Sovereignty Networking Evening
• All meals and refreshments
• Opportunity Labs and Closing Forum

• Delegate directory and post-event summary

   

• Residential rate: From £1,795 + VAT

A limited number of residential places are available through the Royal Agricultural University and selected local hotels at a discounted rate.

Includes:

• Full Executive Forum attendance
• Two nights’ accommodation
• Breakfast, lunches and evening events

Strategic partnership and sponsorship

A small number of partnership opportunities are available for organisations wishing to play a more active role in the Forum, including:

• Thought leadership participation
• Roundtable hosting
• Innovation challenge sponsorship
• Executive networking opportunities
• Brand visibility and delegate engagement

Partnership packages start from £5,000.

Contact us at farm491@rau.ac.uk to register interest.