Tesco chief commercial officer Ashwin Prasad has expressed the supermarket giant’s support for the National Farmers Union (NFU)’s calls for a pause in the implementation of the proposed change to inheritance relief tax.

The changes, which were first outlined in the Autumn Budget, will see a 20% levy against inheritance agriculture land worth more than £1m from April 2026, which farmers have argued will put the security of farming and the UK’s food sector at risk.

As a result, the NFU has launched a campaign calling for the government to pause and consult on changes to stop the tax.

In a blog post titled ‘Supporting the long-term sustainability of the UK agriculture sector’ today (22 January), Prasad said: “The consultation must be followed by the setting of a long-term vision for UK agriculture which gives farmers clarity on the role they can play in the UK’s wider transition to net zero, as well as create the right policy conditions for farmers to be able to invest in, and benefit from the transition.”

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“If we get it right, the farming sector can be a powerful driver of green growth in our economy. A pioneer of new approaches that ensure farms can remain profitable, whilst also being sustainable. But to do so, we must continue to nurture it and provide it with the best conditions to thrive,” he added.

Earlier this month, Morrisons’ head of agriculture Sophie Throup sent a message of support to the farming community.

In a video message posted to social media, Throup said: “We understand your anger and your frustrations at the inheritance tax – and we’re with you.

“We share your concerns about the long-term future the inheritance tax is going to have on farms – particularly smaller, family farms – and we know that you want something done about it. We’ve been raising these concerns at the highest level of government since November last year and we will continue to do so.”