Gareth Lamberton

Gareth Lamerton is a 2020 Nuffield Scholar. Gareth will study ‘The impact of on-farm decisions in our society’.  

Gareth grew up on our family-run dairy, beef and sheep farm along the shores of Lough Swilly in Co. Donegal. He is married to Eleanor and living in a village nearby the home farm.  He works full time as a dairy farmer, alongside his father, brothers and uncle.  After graduating with a B.Sc. in Agricultural Technology from Queen’s University Belfast and CAFRE Greenmount in 2013, he embarked on a six month trip to New Zealand.

Here, he enjoyed working on several dairy farms and one beef and sheep farm. This experience opened his eyes to the opportunities a thriving agricultural industry can provide to individuals, families, businesses and the wider community.  About the time he returned home from NZ, his family completed the purchase of another block of land. Thanks to this, and the subsequent lease of land nearby, they have been able to increase their dairy herd numbers and have plans in place to establish a second dairy unit.

He is an active member of our local Inishowen Dairy Discussion Group.  His chosen study topic was influenced greatly by his time in New Zealand. During this, he was able to understand first hand how changes, such as the huge conversion of land into dairying, and the further extensification of beef and sheep farming had had on rural businesses and communities.

He hopes to travel to New Zealand and Kenya as well as a number of other countries in his travels.

The impact of on-farm decisions in our society