Lachy Ritchie

Background

About Lachy Ritchie

I work to improve the health of farmland and to speed up the transition to net-zero emissions (and beyond) in agricultural systems. I do this by facilitating partnerships or launching new businesses, products and services that achieve commercial and environmental My Why: I love the land I grew up farming and believe changing how we manage land to produce food and fibre is the best pathway towards a healthier planet. I'm fascinated by agricultural systems and the interactions between soil, plants, animals, and humans. I'm focused on carbon farming, carbon insetting, regenerative agriculture, biodiversity, natural capital, supply chain sustainability, and other cutting-edge approaches to sustainable land management. I also believe that we are at a once-in-a-generation transition point in time, where the incentives exist to encourage a mass-scale redesign of our agricultural landscapes. We've spent decades optimising land use for maximum yields alone, now we have only a few years to optimise land use to BOTH feed a growing population and enhance ecosystem health. Transforming agricultural landscapes for the better, is what gets me out of bed in the I'm a builder. I thrive on launching new business initiatives or expanding into new regions, especially if there is no beaten path. I'm skilled at conceptualising solutions, developing products and services, and communicating them to others. I like to get hands-on during the startup phase: creating the spreadsheet model, drafting the first version of the report, visiting the farm, testing with customers, delivering the pitch, and writing copy for the website. I have the attention to detail needed to build systems and processes for roll-out, and I can attract and empower the talented people needed to achieve commercial success. I have extensive networks in rural Australia and have a track record of brokering high-value business partnerships. Despite my impact-focused career, I'm commercially driven, with a keen eye for critical metrics and unit economics. I commercialise ideas, build businesses, and forge partnerships for long-term success.