Lucy Etheridge

The natural way of building income in droughts

Lucy Etheridge understands how farmers like her are increasingly being asked to demonstrate their environmental credentials.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, she says, if that's what the market demands and customers want. But she believes meeting Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) expectations should also create value at farm level, whether through diversified income, stronger climate resilience or an additional financial buffer during drought.

Based in Victoria’s Yarra Valley, Lucy farms across diverse enterprises, primarily wine grapes, alongside beef, sheep and accommodation. Her experience combines an understanding of communication and markets with the practical realities of running an agricultural business.

Through her Nuffield study, “Helping farmers to further understand the value of natural capital on farm”, Lucy will explore how farmers can better understand the natural assets they manage, from soil and water, to vegetation and biodiversity, and how the value of that natural capital can be recognised and potentially generate income. 

She wants to research how other countries are quantifying natural capital with her travels to include New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Scandinavia, Costa Rica and Japan. 

Lucy acknowledges that ESG is a fast moving and evolving space, but it can be a ticket to trade globally, a tool to build resilience to climate variability and something farmers can be recognised and rewarded for.