SAOS Update Conference 2026
WO R K I N G T O G E T H E R T O SHA P E T H E F U T U R E O F FA R M I N G A N D F O O D
Growing our Farming Future Crieff Hydro 22/Jan/2026
Supported by
As ever, we have a fascinating and inspiring day planned for the SAOS Conference on 22nd Jan. Our great speaker line up will share their thoughts and experiences to help us explore how we can capitalise on new opportunities, and adapt to a future for farming with less reliance on public funding.
We’ll have three key areas of focus in the day, during which we’ll be discussing the potential and possibilities for our co-op members and their supply chain partners of: targetting new markets and clients; supplying more Scottish produce into local/Scottish markets; and growing and supplying new, sustainable products. We’ll hear from Digby Sowerby (above right) - MD of the Environmental Farmers Group - a co-operative group of farmers delivering positive environmental change, funded through natural capital trading. Sharing the story of how Organic Herd (formerly OMSCO, the Organic Milk Suppliers Co-op) has evolved over the past 30 years, will be Martyn Anthony, their CEO (right). During the ‘Home Markets’ session we’ll hear from SAOS’s Allene Bruce (below right), Head of Supply Chain Development, and also from Dennis Overton (bottom right), Chair of the Scottish Food Commission who’ll explore various opportunities close to home, and consider some tough questions, including what we could and should be doing more of to become a Good Food Nation. We’ll also be exploring the possibilities for various ‘New Products’ including hearing from IBioIC (the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre) on their recent work exploring the potential of novel agricultural crops and, of course, we’ll be hearing from some of our co-op members throughout the day’s proceedings. Each session will be followed by a hosted Q&A panel slot - James Withers will help us cut to the chase again on two of these, and Helen Glass, SAOS’s Head of Supply Chain Innovation will host the third involving several of our ‘innovation partners’. The Conference is followed by a pre-dinner drinks reception, where we’ll be presenting the Ed Rainy Brown Award. We’ll then relax over dinner before a new twist on our evening fundraising antics, this year we’ll be raising funds for Farmstrong as well as RSABI. Do stay on and join us for a great evening if you can! As usual we are looking for prizes for our fundraising, so if you’d like to donate something we’d be very grateful to receive it, please do get in touch at saos@saos.coop Book up now at https://saosconference2026.eventbee.com
Winter ‘25/26