Stuart Oates
I'm a 7th-generation organic farmer and environmental TV and radio producer, based on the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall. Following a degree in Organic Agriculture and a master's degree in Multimedia Broadcast Journalism, I've had a varied career which included importing and running the largest camel farm in the UK. Outside of farming, I was a live TV news producer and studio director for Euronews in France, I sometimes produce Countryfile for BBC1 and report for Farming Today on BBC Radio 4. Today I work on a large number of projects within the farming sector including leading two innovative farmers trials which are building blocks for my long-term aim of developing fossil-free farming systems, removing all fossil fuels and single-use plastics. Alongside this, Stuart runs a company specialising in habitat creation, restoration, and protection. I'd like to give a huge thanks to the Dartington Cattle Breeding Trust for sponsoring my scholarship.
Fossil Free Farming
Dartington Cattle Breeding Trust
Study Overview
Can you really offset the carbon released from burning millions of years old oil? Is 'net zero' a red herring and should we all instead be working towards 'real zero'; fossil free farming?
I'll be looking at the challenges facing agriculture in removing fossil fuel inputs, such as fuels, single use plastics and artificial nitrogen fertilisers. And I'll be searching for solutions in the form of alternative technologies, farming practices, food supply chain adaptions and funding sources to ensure that the transition is profitable.
I hope to gain experiences which will allow me to turn my farm 'fossil free' and share my findings with innovators and policy makers to ensure the UK leads the world in a fossil free and biodiverse future across all industries.