Rebuilding Recovery & Agri-Food Resilience Forum

Technology • Food Systems • Recovery • Manufacturing • Resilience

28–30 October 2026
Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester

Three days. Global challenges. Practical opportunities.

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.

Rather than presentations and sales pitches, the Forum is designed to create meaningful conversations, new partnerships and tangible opportunities.

Curated by the Royal Agricultural University

The Royal Agricultural University 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.

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

28 October

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.

Mission Themes

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

Executive Salon Dinner (Invitation Only)

The Ideas Worth Building

The Executive Forum opens with an intimate salon dinner bringing together innovators, investors and industry leaders.

Selected Mission Lab teams will 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

Designed to create the conversations that rarely happen at traditional conferences.

29 October

Agri-Food Resilience & Innovation Forum

Strategic Briefings

Short, high-impact sessions covering:

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

Executive Panel

What Should Leaders Be Watching Now?

A forward-looking discussion for food manufacturers, agri-food businesses, technology providers and Campden BRI members.

Focused on the challenges and opportunities that will shape the next three to five years.

Strategy Breakouts

Participants choose one discussion stream:

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

Executive Leadership Salons

Small-group discussions examining:

• 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

Networking with Purpose

Hosted by Will Rogers and Professor Duncan Westbury

This distinctive evening explores a question far bigger than beer:

What should the UK be producing closer to home?

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

An evening designed to generate ideas—not just exchange business cards.

30 October

Strategic Agri-Food Unconference

No PowerPoints. No Spectators.

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

Moving beyond discussion to identify:

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

Closing Forum

What Should We Do Next?

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

Why This Forum Is Different

Most conferences optimise for presentations.

This forum optimises for conversations.

By combining:

• Mission Labs
• Executive Salons
• Strategy Breakouts
• Leadership Roundtables
• Beer, Hops & Food Sovereignty
• A Participant-Led Unconference

the Forum creates a unique environment where leaders can explore major challenges, challenge assumptions, develop partnerships and identify practical opportunities for action.

Attendance

Mission Labs

Open to selected innovators, researchers, corporates, investors and technology partners.

Executive Forum

Limited to approximately 50 senior leaders across industry, government, academia and investment.

Three Days. Real Challenges. New Partnerships. Better Ideas.

Pricing

Mission Labs

28 October 2026

For innovators, startups, technology companies, researchers, corporates and investors.

£295 + VAT

Includes:

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

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 Package

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

From £1,795 + VAT

Includes:

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

Innovation & Startup Places

To encourage participation from emerging innovators, a limited number of subsidised places are available for:

• Startups
• Scale-ups
• University spin-outs
• Early-stage ventures

From £195 + VAT

Subject to application and availability.

Strategic Partners & Sponsors

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 from £5,000.

Please contact the Forum team to discuss partnership opportunities.

Attendance

Mission Labs: Open to selected innovators, researchers, corporates, investors and technology partners.

Executive Forum: Limited to approximately 50 senior leaders to ensure high-quality discussion and meaningful networking.

Three days. Real challenges. New partnerships. Better ideas.