Business offers a chance to invest in Australian farmers via the Invest Inya Farmer app

Two Darwin agricultural entrepreneurs will soon have the business world buzzing with an innovative idea for attracting investors. Here’s how you can own a part of their sweet business.

An opportunity to become a farmer without leaving the comfort of your home is being offered by a couple of Darwin mates.

A “virtual beekeeping” program will mean everyday Aussies can reap the financial benefits from owning a hive without any of the work.

Territory Bees, owned by former youth workers Caleb Cardno and Jahmayne Coolwell, has turned to an investing program that allows consumers to support farmers from afar.

The money they receive through the Invest Inya Farmer program will be reinvested in the Northern Territory, as they help pollinate the Top End’s fruit and vegetable crops and eventually rollout the hives in remote communities.

Territory Bees owners Caleb Cardno and Jahmayne Coolwell. Picture: Supplied

“We need $100,000 in funds to buy nucleus hives which we will then grow out to almost complete hives, strong and ready for the pollination season,” Mr Cardno said.

“We’ll put their hive on a farm for a certain amount of time, receive an income, and share the profits with the investor.”

According to the IIF website, a hive can be purchased for $460, with a $600 estimated return after 12 months.

The app can also be used to invest in other agricultural ventures, from cattle farms to vineyards and oysters.

For farmers like Caleb and Jahmaybe it means early access to capital so they can pursue opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach,” IIF founder Nathan MacPhee said.

“For consumers it’s a way to back Aussie farmers and make money at the same time.”

Local need for beekeepers

Territory Bees was started out of necessity, with the dwindling bee populations and a gap in the market in the NT.

“There was a need for pollination services in particular,” Mr Coolwell said.

“There’s definitely lower numbers within the commercial beekeeping space within the NT.”

He said since the pair started the business in 2020, things had really stared to take off, including interest in financially supporting them.

Caleb Cardno and Jahmayne Coolwell need your support. Picture: Supplied

“It’s just grown steadily without us doing too much work — it’s all organically grown,” he said.

“People have been really supportive of this venture once we explain our vision.

“We’re not wanting to see a huge profit turnover for ourselves but wanting to empower and bring other people along on our journey.”

Empowering remote communities

The men plan on heading out to Wadeye to train up locals as beekeepers who can use honey and beeswax from the hives as a source of income, and break the cycle of failed business ventures financial instability.

“Very seldom has there been a sustainable business launch within these communities, that we have seen at least,” Mr Cardno said.

“People have good intentions at the start, but then 12 to 24 months later there’s nothing there.”

Mr Coolwell said they hoped to embed themselves in the town and make lasting change.

“We want to create long term opportunities and long term change — We want to build ourselves within that community and build that trust.”