Rebecca Mason Email and Phone Number

Worked on a range of 'agroecological' mixed system farms as part of 'WWOOF' (https://wwoof.net/). Engaged in day-to-day farm operations and part of daily discussions around the dinner table with experienced farmers. This gave me the opportunity to link theoretical ideas with the challenges of practical implementation, and to start to understand what the terms 'agroecology', 'permaculture', 'regenerative agriculture', etc mean in reality.

Involved in the plant breeding, crop trials and animal nutrition trials on a commercial research farm. Focus was on providing new forage crops with increased productivity, nutrient value and environmental sustainability. In particular, I was involved in a series of trials demonstrating the ability of plantain (Plantago lanceolata) to substantially reduce nitrogen leaching (by up to 90%) from livestock urine patches.

Designed, set-up and managed a series of 12-month crop trials on a large commercial farm in Kenya. The aim was to investigate the potential of biochar (made from onsite rose waste) to maintain maize yields whilst reducing irrigation and fertilizer inputs. The results demonstrated yield increases of up to 70% under the combined 30% reduced irrigation and fertilizer condition. Further analysis suggested this was due to addition of potassium (associated with the biochar) rather than the biochar alone. Potassium can improve plant water use efficiency. Biochar may have been important as a slow release mechanism.

Visited stores, helped carry out energy surveys and sat in on meetings discussing new technologies and sustainable sourcing.

Wrote summary reports, sat in on meetings and learnt about the workings of a small-scale environmental NGO.