Farm planning horizons and the transition to net zero webinar

The Farm planning horizons and the transition to net zero webinar, organised by the LUNZ Hub Enabling transition to net zero Topic Advisory Group, took place on the 14th of March 2025. Opportunities and requirements for net zero transition at farm level can require new planning horizons and often long-term commitments.

Three speakers provided different perspectives about the need for new planning horizons at farm level resulting from the net zero transition – alongside other external factors – government policy, nature markets etc. They explained how these do not always align with farm planning cycles, family succession, business plans and farm tenancies, and can have implications for land value and inheritance tax management. The three presentations were followed by a panel discussion and Q&A.

Click here to watch the full webinar recording.

The presentations were:

How to work with triggers and family cycles for transformative change – Professor Lee-Ann Sutherland.

• Professor Lee-Ann Sutherland discussed the concept of path dependency in farming, explaining that farmers are not resistant to change but follow a steady trajectory of increased investment in the lead up to a succession process, and the importance of working with trigger points for transformational change.

Nature-based solutions: making sense of the opportunities – Emily Norton

• Emily Norton outlined the challenges and opportunities in transitioning to net zero, discussing ideas around environmental accountability and emphasising the need for better coordination and baselines in environmental schemes.

Land Use Change for Net Zero – Actual or Perceived Constraints? –  Nick Millard

• Nick Millard addressed the constraints and challenges in land use change, particularly focusing on the impact of inheritance tax changes and the need for effective advisory services. This was followed by a panel discussion which touched on the simultaneous triggers affecting the agricultural sector, including extreme weather events, inheritance tax, and market pressures, raising concerns about the availability of professional resources to mentor businesses through these changes.