One story has dominated the media since the Chancellor’s Budget: The decision to reduce Agricultural Property Relief for farming businesses. Many farmers have been very vocal about the potential impact of this, and there is a lot of fear that it will lead to the break up (and break down) of family farms. Others though, say the hype is overblown and it will only impact the very richest.

This all comes at a time of huge change for farming, not least the phasing out of traditional area based support payments, and the transition to more nature-friendly farming practices. On top of this is the very real urgency to reduce emissions, while also ensuring food security in an increasingly tense world.

So what could the impact be on farming and its ability to weather the changes ahead and lead the transition to a more sustainable food system? How might the changes affect farmers’ ability to reduce emissions or enter into natural capital markets and contracts? What are the many nuances at play, including culture, emotional ties, wealth and business viability?

Our two speakers will explore this for us and try to make sense of things. They are; Emily Norton, our AFN Network+ Policy Champion for Land, Agriculture and Carbon, and Jason Beedell, head of rural research at Strutt & Parker, one of the UK’s largest land agents.

The webinar will be chaired by Jez Fredenburgh, Knowledge Exchange Fellow at the AFN Network+, with input from Prof Neil Ward, AFN co-lead. Both are based in the Environment Department at the University of East Anglia.

About Emily:

Emily Norton has 25 years’ experience in the food and farming sector. She originally qualified as a lawyer before undertaking an MSc in Sustainable Agriculture. Her career has taken her from family business to global PLC, with time spent in Brussels and across the UK.

Emily is the founder of Farm Foresight Ltd, a strategic advisory service for the land management sector, working with farmers, investors, politicians and businesses on rural policy and emerging trends. She has expertise in natural capital influences on land, food and farming. Emily holds non-executive board positions at Soil Association Exchange, the Environmental Markets Board and for the Duchy of Cornwall. She is a member of the national policy committee of the Country Land and Business Association and is a trustee at the Royal Norfolk Agricultural Association. She writes a regular opinion column in the Farmers Weekly and lives and farms in Norfolk.

About Jason:

Jason Beedell heads Strutt & Parker’s rural research and supports the firm’s rural team with information and analysis on farming, land management, planning, environment, energy, forestry and rural capital markets.

He is a nationally recognised commentator on rural issues, particularly rural property markets and agricultural policy reform. He has lead multi-disciplinary research teams on a wide range of subjects, including the rural economy and environmental policies.  He leads our collaboration on natural capital accounting with eftec.

About the webinar series:

This webinar is part of a monthly series run by AFN Network+ which explores net zero in the UK agri-food system with leading movers and shakers. Expect deep and varied insight from across the sector, including farmers, scientists, policy analysts, community leaders, retailers, politicians, businesses and health professionals. The series is organised by Jez Fredenburgh, our Knowledge Exchange Fellow, and Prof Neil Ward, AFN Co-lead and Professor of rural geography. Jez and Neil are based in the School of Environmental Sciences, and the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, at the University of East Anglia.