£6.5 million for net zero farming research

To reach net zero by 2050 we have to understand the impact of changing land use. £6.5 million in government funding will enable researchers to provide timely evidence across the broad issues, from renewable energy to soil carbon and green finance. The University of Reading is proud to announce its participation in a groundbreaking consortium of 34 organisations that form the 'Land Use for Net Zero' (LUNZ) Hub.

The LUNZ Hub aims to provide all four UK administrations with rapid evidence to develop policies driving UK land transformation to achieve net zero carbon by 2050.

The consortium includes experts from research, farming, and industry, across issues including green finance, renewable energy, planning, soil health, new tree cover, and water management.

The LUNZ Hub, led by The James Hutton Institute, with the University of Leicester, recognises that the decisions made can promote land use as either a major carbon sink or source.

Professor Lee-Ann Sutherland from The James Hutton Institute, Hub co-lead, explained: "The science behind land use is highly complex. It is influenced by a range of economic, social and environmental factors, and complicated further by a changing evidence base, novel market forces, the emergence of new data and models, and disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence. Our aim is to bridge the gap between researchers and policy makers, focusing on meeting specific policy-maker needs."

Dr Anna Macready, Associate Professor in Agri-Food Economics & Marketing at the University of Reading said: "We are excited to be part of this crucial initiative. The University of Reading is a centre of excellence in agri-food systems and we will be contributing our expertise in consumer behaviour to the LUNZ Hub. Our researchers, with other Hub members, will assess the impacts of land use change and policy interventions."

The consortium has developed innovative mechanisms including an Agile Policy Centre, Net Zero Futures Platform, and Creative Methods Lab, each tailored to generate clear, robust answers to urgent questions.

Professor Heiko Balzter from the University of Leicester, Hub Co-lead, highlighted the novel approach to stakeholder participation: "Creating a fair, realistic path to Net Zero in the land use sector can only be achieved with the involvement of a wide range of stakeholders throughout the process. Our consortium reflects this – ranging from those at the cutting edge of climate change modelling to farmers groups, advisory organisations, non-governmental organisations and an arts collective."

This project is expected to have far-reaching implications for UK agriculture and land use, potentially revolutionizing practices and contributing significantly to the country's net zero goals. The findings and technologies developed through this consortium will inform policy decisions and industry practices for years to come.