Tom Cosentino's childhood dream was always to be a farmer but with no family farm to inherit, it has not been an easy path.
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Four years ago, he and his wife Aimee took the first step buying a 50 hectare property at Hindmarsh Valley on the Fleurieu Peninsula.
They have gradually found a couple more blocks to lease at Back Valley and Pages Flat, bringing the total area under their management to 200 hectares.
During this time they have grown their herd to 120 Murray Grey and Angus breeders.
"We have been growing our breeder numbers so we can start to have a consistent base in which to generate income to show the bank but we are not in a position to buy another block just yet," he said.
Last week, Mr Cosentino was awarded a Nuffield scholarship to explore different business structures that allow first generation farmers to get their foot in the door but also allow older farmers to retain their asset and receive a guaranteed return, even after they retire or sell out across a number of years.
Mr Cosentino admits it is hard to explain why he has felt such a strong pull to the land, having grown up in Adelaide and not having any relatives with farms.
The appeal includes being able to be creative, working with animals and being outdoors rather than stuck in an office.
"There is also something about the people working in agriculture, it attracts inspiring people and there are not many other jobs where you can work alongside your husband or your wife," he said.
After gaining a commerce and law degree, he spent five years working as an accountant before starting his own consulting business.
Among his existing roles are two in primary production - Southern Rock Lobster Ltd's executive officer and executive officer of the SA Sheep and Cattle Industry Funds.
Mr Cosentino says they have been were fortunate to be "in the right place at the right time", securing some lease land, but it is not was not easy raising the capital for their first purchase.
"I have been working two jobs and so has my wife to make it work - it is still not a viable pathway in 2023 to be working two jobs and running a farm," he said.
Mr Cosentino acknowledges the Fleurieu Peninsula is one of the more expensive areas of SA to buy land, often competing with land developers, but also sees opportunities being located near a big population for direct to consumer marketing and even on-farm tourism.
They have already supplied some of their cattle into a beef brand, which is sold at the Willunga Farmers Market, and have also sold a few sides of lamb to friends.
"We would like to grow this to be completely protected from market fluctuations," he said.
Mr Cosentino's next big goal is to be a full-time farmer by the time he is 40 years of age - nine years away.
"The goal is to be able to replace the accounting business with farm income, pay down as much debt as possible and buy another block - although everyone says the second block is harder than the first ," he said.
TRAVEL TO UNCOVER PATHWAY OPTIONS
FLEURIEU beef producer Tom Cosentino's Nuffield travel plans will have him search the globe on the lookout for successful examples of how to bring a new generation into food and fibre production.
"It is not about subsidies or being offered hand outs but looking at what other countries have in place which are working but which may be difficult to replicate here because of our policy settings or tax system," he said.
His scholarship is supported by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.
As well as agriculture he also hopes, particularly in the United States, to get a greater understanding of some of the business models enabling new entrants to buy fishing quotas.
"There are a lot of similarities between farmland and fishing quotas in that both are extremely expensive to buy into and to pay off based on returns without winning the lotto," he said.
"It is not about looking for a handout or wanting to be given someone else's inheritance but it is about setting up systems which allow young people from non farming backgrounds time to buy into the business or herd over a number of years and eventually owning it.
"Another example could see a family farm where there is no one interested in taking it on almost becoming like a corporate farm with an advisory management board in place and then supporting another young person to come in."
