Stephen Aston

Stephen Aston is a highly experienced professional in agricultural research and development, currently serving as Senior Director of R&D at One Acre Fund since October 2015, where leadership is provided to a multi-disciplinary team across eight countries, addressing the challenges faced by over one million small-scale farmers in Africa. Prior roles include Senior Product Innovations Manager at Defra, where a portfolio of sustainable agriculture R&D projects was managed, and NERC Doctoral Researcher at Swansea University, focusing on biochar's effects on soil and carbon sequestration. Stephen also held positions as Research Fellow at the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, synthesizing evidence on carbon dioxide removal technologies, and Development Associate at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, leading a strategic review on cassava commercialization. Educational qualifications include a PhD and BSc in Geography from Swansea University.