MORE than eight in ten farmers think their farms will be carbon neutral by 2035, a survey suggests.

The poll of 1,000 farmers found two thirds (66 per cent) thought sustainability and business efficiency were top priorities, with plans for everything from planting more trees and rewilding parts of the farm to using new technology.

It also revealed 65 per cent agreed that Covid-19 had been the catalyst for thinking about how to make their business more sustainable, and 69 per cent thought being sustainable will help them be more competitive post-Brexit.

The poll was carried out by Opinium Matters for Barclays, which has launched a £250m financial scheme to help farmers invest in agri-tech to help them reach net zero and become more sustainable.

The bank has also launched a carbon zero food system campaign.

A separate survey by Opinium Matters of 2,000 people suggests shoppers are prepared to pay almost £200 a year more for more sustainable produce – an average of £3.70 a week or £192.40 a year.

The National Farmers' Union has set out ambitions for the sector to become net zero by 2040, which would require sharp cuts in emissions and any remaining pollution to be offset by measures such as planting trees.

But the poll suggests 83 per cent of farmers think they can get there by 2035 or earlier, including 16 per cent who believe their operations are already carbon neutral.

A quarter said they were investing in becoming a carbon net zero business, with similar proportions saying they were taking or planning steps to better manage manure and slurry, using agri-tech on farms to give more efficient production and reduce waste or planting more trees or hedgerows.

More than two thirds (68 per cent) agreed that the UK needs a more resilient food system.