Lincoln University’s Centre of Excellence in Transformative Agribusiness, in partnership with ASB, has published a new report: The Future Use of Land and How to Fund It. The findings outline a clear, evidence-backed case for land-use optimisation and the steps we can take together to deliver meaningful change at scale.

Key insights include:

• Optimising land use by just 10% could add $10 billion in value to the economy if it’s done in the right way, and this, or even more could be achieved in the next 5 – 7 years.   

• Smarter, more diverse land use could significantly strengthen rural resilience, improve environmental outcomes, and help future-proof farming businesses.

• Seven transformational pathways have been identified, from increased horticulture and on-farm processing to unlocking underutilised Māori land.

The research is sector-informed, drawing on contributions from leaders in dairy, beef and sheep, horticulture, agritech, finance and government. It models four future scenarios, and calls for coordinated action to ensure our regions thrive under any conditions.