Landline

Topic: Farmers

Saturday, 18 July 2026, 5:59 am

People can invest in small things like oysters or bigger things like cows.

A company in Australia helps city investors buy shares in farms, giving farmers new money and city people a chance to farm from their phones.

Investors use a website to buy shares of farm produce before it is sold.

Investments can be small, like $10 for oysters, or big, like $20,000 for a cow, with most investments around $500.

Ewan McAsh says this platform has been very helpful for his oyster farm.

In four years, the platform has given over $20 million to 100 Australian farms.

Kylie Clarkin is an investor from Sydney.

She has been using the platform since 2022 and has invested in oysters, ginger, watermelon, and oats.

Kylie says she has made an average of 7% profit per year, with 85% of her investments being profitable.

Kylie prefers to invest in organic and regenerative farming.

She chooses to invest in things that are good for the environment, even if they don't make as much money.

Farmers can be rich in assets but poor in cash.

The platform helps farmers by giving them access to money and spreading the risk.

If a crop fails, the loss is shared among investors.

Lachie Varley, a young farmer, recently listed his corn crop on the platform.

As a young farmer, it's hard for him to get enough money.

Ewan McAsh was one of the first farmers to use the platform.

In the oyster industry, it's hard to get money because oysters are grown on government leases and can't be used as collateral.

Ewan McAsh used to borrow money against his house to fund his farm.

The platform has been very helpful for Ewan's business.

It allows him to sell his crop while it's still growing and invest in new equipment and seeds.

Ewan's farm is now one of the most modern in Australia.

Farming without land

Nathan MacPhee started the platform after moving to Victoria's High Country.

He wanted to farm but didn't have enough land, so he created a way for city investors to invest in farms.

The platform has about 8,000 investors and is regulated like a cooperative.

Nathan says they own millions of oysters and have invested in thousands of animals.

Nathan and Lachie inspect crops near Finley, NSW.

Their crops are grown in many states, including Queensland and Tasmania.

Nathan says it's important to diversify because farming can be unpredictable.

They look for ways to manage the risks of farming.

A different kind of return

Investors might want to feel connected to the farms and food they're investing in.

Oysters are one of the crops available for investment.

The platform allows farmers to partner with investors who share the risks and rewards.

Farming can be very risky, with factors like weather and prices affecting crops.

Kylie Clarkin says she invests to support Australian farmers.

She also invested a small amount in the platform when it started.

Kylie is concerned about big companies buying up farms and the impact on food prices and quality.

Practice Listening