The Oxford Farming Conference (OFC), supported by McCain Foods (GB) Ltd., is thrilled to announce the six trailblazers selected for its inaugural Inspiring Innovators programme. These forward-thinking individuals will take centre stage during the opening session of OFC25, which runs from January 8–10, 2025, in Oxford and online.

With this year’s theme, “Facing Change, Finding Opportunity,” OFC25 highlights how today’s challenges in agriculture can spark groundbreaking solutions. The Innovators exemplify this vision, bringing fresh ideas and actionable solutions to some of the sector’s most pressing issues, from sustainability and food security to market diversification and consumer trends.

Representing a broad spectrum of expertise, the 2025 Inspiring Innovators are:

• Dr. Thomas Farrugia, Beta Bugs Limited: As CEO and Founder of Beta Bugs Limited, Dr Thomas Farrugia pioneers the use of Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BSFL) as an alternative protein source for animal feed. Through selective breeding, Beta Bugs enhances the genetic performance of BSFL, enabling the insect farming industry to scale and compete with traditional protein sources like soymeal. At OFC25, Thomas will share how insect farming offers farmers new diversification opportunities while addressing feed shortages and sustainability challenges.