REBEL farmers who challenged a corporate conference at Oxford University eight years ago are now setting the agenda.

More than 1,500 growers and grocers are attending the 2017 Oxford Real Farming Conference at Oxford Town Hall this week to plot nothing less than a revolution in industrial farming practice, putting environment at the heart of it.

Meanwhile, a fraction of that number – about 450 – are attending the original Oxford Farming Conference (OFC) at Oxford University which it was set up to rival.

The OFC, first held in Oxford since 1936, is sponsored by McDonald's, Barclays Bank, and giants of agricultural industry such as Bayer Cropscience and BASF chemicals.

But Real conference founder Colin Tudge, says his event, which champions organic growing and environmental protection, is now setting the agenda for its rival.

The 73-year-old, who lives in Wolvercote, said: "When we started in 2010 we had 80 people in a church.

"This year we have got 800 people each day – the interest is very, very great.

"We started as an antidote to the official one, but now we are by far the bigger; we are cheaper, cover a broader range and the people who support us are, on the whole, small farmers.

"Ten years ago if you talked about organic farming people would think you were a crank – now the Oxford Farming Conference are talking about it."

Mr Tudge said the point about organic farming is thinking about what is possible to grow where you live.

He added: "We have to work with the world or we'll wreck the world.

"We all know about soil degradation and climate change – all strongly influenced by industrial agriculture.

"If we really want to be sustainable and still be here in 1,000 years, we have to start looking after the world properly."

Mr Tudge said he had seen farmers in Oxfordshire using more sustainable methods and working with the environment to tackle some of the biggest challenges in recent years: drought, climate change and shrinking profit margins due to issues including cost of milk affecting dairy farmers.

Well into his eighth decade, Mr Tudge has just launched a new College for Real Farming and Food Culture.

He eventually hopes to set up a model farm, and said there are several Oxfordshire farms could provide inspiration.

He singled out Sandy Lane Farm in Tiddington near Wheatley for its healthy mixture of arable, horticultural and livestock; organic methods and grass-fed animals.

He added: "What we want to do is build the alternative farm, so people can see the type of farming we're talking about is a much better option than big, corporate industrial."

See the programs for both conferences at ofc.org.uk and orfc.org.uk