BBC Radio 4 – On Your Farm. 1st September 2024

“Oilseed rape is not the easiest crop for farmers to grow. It can be high risk: pests like cabbage stem flea beetle can wipe out a crop, and some pesticides which growers once relied on are now banned. However, in spite of the challenges, one farmer in the Cotswolds has created a booming business selling rapeseed oil as a British alternative to imported olive oil. Charlie Beldam presses and bottles the oilseed rape grown on his family farm in Broadway. He came up with the idea as a student and 14 years on “Cotswold Gold” is now a growing business.

Charlie says with flea beetle and the very wet weather, this year has been tough – but he’s worked hard to make the business sustainable and he believes that keeps it competitive. He say nothing is wasted, from the crushed seeds which are used as cattle feed, to the spent oil which is collected from local businesses and recycled for use as biodiesel”.

Produced and presented by Rebecca Rooney

www.countryfile.com