An Evening with Guy Singh-Watson

Hear from one of the UK's organic pioneers about growing Riverford from one man and a wheelbarrow to a business turning over £100m+ a year. Guy Singh-Watson is the founder of one of the UK's largest veg box business, Riverford Organic Farmers. He will share what he’s learned over four decades of farming and commerce: why organic can pay, how to grow a business to £100m+ turnover, handing over ownership to employees, and farming in a changing climate. There’ll be plenty of time to put your own questions to him. Having read Agricultural and Forestry Science at Oxford University, Guy worked briefly as a management consultant in London and New York - before returning to the land his parents had farmed near Totnes. In 1986, he started Riverford with three acres of vegetables, a wheelbarrow and a borrowed tractor, supplying veg boxes to around 30 local homes; today, the business delivers to 70,000 customers a week. Riverford was started with radical ideals, and has stayed true to them. Since 2023, the business has been 100% employee-owned, and as of 2025, has a negative gender pay gap (meaning women are paid more than men). Guy's contributions to the world of farming have been widely recognised, and he has twice won BBC Radio 4 Farmer of the Year. In 2026, he was included in the Independent's Climate 100 List of the world’s leading environmentalists and campaigners. Guy has been a loyal supporter of the charity Ripple Effect since he first came across their work during a trip to Kenya and Uganda in the late 1990s, describing their agroecological training programmes as 'some of the most inspiring farming I have ever seen.' All proceeds from this event will go towards Ripple Effect's work. In recent years, Guy has been supporting new entrants and small businesses to get a head start by providing affordable growing space where he now lives with his wife, Geetie, at Baddaford Farm. This event is a chance to hear first-hand from someone who has played a huge part in shaping the UK organic movement, about his career, his challenges along the way and what he's focusing on now. We look forward to seeing you there! • Wednesday 11 November, 6:15-8pm. Doors 6pm. • Boutflour Hall, Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester, GL7 6JS