Sebastian Chapman | Who Will Own New Zealand’s Farms in 20 Years? - Ep 65

How will the next generation of New Zealand farmers get into farm ownership?

In this episode of the From The Soil Up Podcast, Conan sits down with Seb Chapman from Seedling Investment to explore the changing landscape of farm ownership and the challenges facing young farmers wanting to build a future in agriculture.

Seb shares his journey through dairy farming and explains why traditional pathways into farm ownership are becoming increasingly difficult. They explore alternative approaches including share farming, small land blocks, investment models and the potential role of KiwiSaver.

The conversation also dives into farm succession, land values, family agreements and the structural challenges facing New Zealand agriculture, as well as how sustainability and soil health can contribute to long-term farm value.

Seb shares the thinking behind Seedling Investment, its vision for the future and why creating more accessible pathways into farm ownership could be critical for the future of New Zealand farming.

In this episode:

• The changing landscape of farm ownership in NZ
• Alternative pathways for young farmers
• Farm succession and family agreements
• Investing in agricultural land and building equity
• The potential role of KiwiSaver
• Sustainability, soil health and long-term farm value
• The Seedling Investment model and its vision for NZ agriculture
• Why taking action is often better than waiting for the perfect opportunity

If you're a young farmer, part of a farming family thinking about succession, or interested in the future of New Zealand agriculture and land ownership, this is a conversation worth listening to.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-chapman-fruitminder/

https://seedling-investments.com/