Renewable energy in agriculture with Karin Stark
About Karin Stark
Karin Stark's international and professional history combines 18 years of engagement with communities around contemporary environmental issues. She founded the National Renewables in Agriculture Conference in 2019 and is Director of Farm Renewables Consulting. She's a mum, and also works part time for ReAqua, with previous roles within the NSW State Government and in Landcare. Her family farm has Australia’s largest solar-diesel irrigation system at 500kW and 1500 panels.
Books
Books authored by or mentioned in our conversation.
- The magical rainbow man by Shahastra, GoodReads
Listen to the Podcast
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Castbox, Deezer, Goodpods, Overcast, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, Blubrry, Digital Podcast, Gaana, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Podhero, PlayerFM, JioSaavn, RSS, and other podcast platforms.
Watch on YouTube
- [00:47] Studying Environmental Science and Sustainable Development
- [01:53] Working in sustainable transport
- [02:53] The London Cycle Hire Scheme
- [04:27] What coordinating the program entails
- [06:19] The effect of bike helmet laws on cycle hire programs
- [08:42] Transitioning to renewables in agriculture
- [09:36] Introduction to solar in irrigation
- [11:03] About their Narromine cotton farm
- [11:42] The controversy around cotton
- [13:09] Operating costs of diesel pumps
- [13:28] Installation of the largest hybrid solar / diesel pump system in Australia
- [14:26] Reduction of carbon emissions
- [15:10] Other farms setting up similar systems
- [15:43] Founding the National Renewables in Agriculture Conference
- [17:24] Interstate participants
- [18:00] Leasing energy as a secondary income
- [19:00] The controversy behind the use of ag land
- [20:07] Agrivoltaics
- [21:02] Other agriculture businesses taking up renewables
- [22:07] What is involved in leasing land for energy production
- [23:11] About Reaqua and solar irrigation
- [25:15] What's next for the conference
- [25:39] Sample of the speakers for the next event
- [26:48] Sharing of new developments in alternative energy solutions
- [28:11] Support for agricultural renewables in other Australian states
- [29:03] AgZero2030
- [29:29] The impracticality of remote conferences for regional areas
- [30:10] Moving towards a renewables led recovery
- [30:55] Bonus Question 1: What hobby or interest do you have that is most unrelated to your field of work?
- [32:32] Bonus Question 2: Which childhood book holds the strongest memories for you?
- [34:36] Bonus Question 3: What advice you would give someone who wants to do what you do? Or what advice should they ignore?
Highlights
Connect with Us
- @steampoweredshow
- @steampoweredshow
- @steampoweredshw
- @steampoweredshow
- @steampoweredshow
- @steampoweredshow
- steampoweredshow
Support STEAM Powered
Review Us
Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, GoodPods, Podchaser, or your preferred podcatcher.
Become a Patron
Affiliate Programs
Start your own podcast or YouTube channel, or run panels and seminars with Riverside.fm. Record up to 8 people in a session with up to 1000 audience members. You can record in advance as I do, or you can livestream with the option to send it straight to Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, or Twitch. There's even a green-room for guests and live call in for audience members. Afterwards, get separate video (up to 4K) and audio (up to 48kHz) tracks per recorded participant for editing, none of that “active speaker only” limitation. You know you're in good hands with a service whose client-base includes some heavy-hitters. Check out Riverside.fm to see who else is on board. Use promo code STEAM25 to get 25% off the first three months of your subscription.
