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Published by Macmillan Education Ltd. © Macmillan Education Limited, 2021.
BUSINESSNEWSLESSONS
Intermediate
Landinvestmentsupportsproductivity
andsustainability
Warmer
a. Businesses are expected to meet environmental goals and show the public that they are
committed to protecting the planet. Think and discuss.
How could businesses change their activities to better support the environment?
Do you know any companies whose environmental policies you admire? What are they?
Key words
a. Match the words with the definitions and fill in the sentences.
wealth institutional carbon sink pursued intensive
controversial productivity climate planet crop
1. a particular type of animal, plant, or a group of people with distinct characteristics. This is a
different of designers, committed to protecting the environment and
only forming partnerships with suppliers who share their values.
2. a large amount of money and other valuable assets Once he had inherited his father’s estate, he
was able invest the majority of his in a new energy production project.
3. from or within a large organisation It would appear there are issues at an
level, with women being excluded from senior positions for decades.
4. a chemical element that is found in all living things and can also exist as diamonds or coal with
the symbol C. To reduce emissions, they decided to invest in electric
vehicle production.
5. a large open container for water, usually fixed to a wall in kitchens and bathrooms After reviewing
the feedback, they decided to install a smaller , so that guests would
have more space to move in the tiny bathroom.
6. followed a course of action intensely and deliberately She has an
award since the beginning of her career, but every year she loses out in favour of another actor.
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Published by Macmillan Education Ltd. © Macmillan Education Limited, 2021.
BUSINESSNEWSLESSONS
Intermediate
7. involving a lot of effort, energy or attention Jasminda didn’t want to waste time, so she booked a
place on an course that promised completion in just three weeks.
8. giving rise or likely to cause a public disagreement He is a journalist
who proceeds without caution and writes nasty comments about anyone who disagrees with
his opinions.
9. the rate at which goods are produced, especially in relation to the time, money and
workers needed to produce them The impact on trade has caused a significant drop in
in all regions of the world and the global economy could take years
to recover.
10. the type of weather that a country or region experiences The Egyptian
is hot and dry and this provides the perfect environment to grow these kinds of plants.
11. a very large round object that moves around the sun or another star The scientists revealed
that the is made of gas and one of the oldest discovered.
12. a plant grown for food, usually on a field It is known for being a difficult
to grow and requires wet soil that has to be given water several times each day.

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Published by Macmillan Education Ltd. © Macmillan Education Limited, 2021.
Intermediate
BUSINESSNEWSLESSONS
‘Farmer Bill’ is not alone in dreams of a
rural idyll
NEW WAVE OF LANDOWNERS PRIORITISES SUSTAINABILITY AS WELL AS PROFITS
BY THE FINANCIAL TIMES
Many desk-bound and locked-down workers will have
spent much of the coronavirus pandemic dreaming
of purchasing a rural idyll — even trying their hand
as a farmer. Few, however, have the resources of
Bill Gates, the world’s third-richest man, who was
revealed earlier this year by the US publication The
Land Report to have become the largest private land
owner in the US. It said his portfolio includes at least
242,000 acres of farmland, slightly smaller than the
territory of Hong Kong.
The gentleman farmer — who relies on their land not
for income but an outlet — has long been a familiar
figure. Countless American titans of industry and
politicians have owned ranches as country retreats.
Gates, however, numbers among a new breed
who, in the same way as modern ethical investing
promises both profits and principles, see farmland
as an investment as well as a chance to, literally,
reshape the world.
Farmer Bill, as he was dubbed by the Land Report,
is not alone. Family offices that manage the personal
wealth of rich individuals, and other institutional
investors have similarly started making a living from
farming — inflows into funds investing in arable land
rose to a record high in 2019. That might not chime
with some of the US Founding Fathers’ ideals of
an America based on yeoman farmers but it does
represent many people trying to have a different and
more fruitful relationship with the land.
Farmland offers a chance for funds and investors to
mitigate climate change — many investment outfits
now have “net zero” targets. That can be as simple
as growing trees or encouraging exhausted soils to
regenerate, allowing the land to work as a carbon
sink trapping greenhouse gases. Most institutional
investors have been buying land for crops rather
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than more carbon-intensive livestock farms. The UK’s
largest private landowner, the Danish retail billionaire
Anders Hoch Povlsen, is aiming to rewild his Scottish
estate and has, for more than a decade, pursued
an intensive strategy of tree planting, including
controversial deer culls.
Others may want to try their hand at new farming
techniques. Gates’ charitable foundation, while
not linked to his personal portfolio, has improving
conditions for smallholders and increasing their
productivity as one of its goals. In response to a
question on the social media side Reddit, Gates said
that while the farmland purchase was a decision for
his investment managers, more productive seeds
can avoid deforestation and help Africa cope with the
already-changing climate.
Farming, as a business, was already changing.
Agritech — start-ups that aim to apply new scientific
techniques to improve productivity and sustainability
— has become another rapid-growing investment
trend. These companies likewise appeal to investors
who want to do their bit for the planet while earning a
financial return. Many have been the target of special
purpose acquisition companies, so-called blank
cheque companies that first list on the stock market
and only then find a company to purchase.
It is likely to change even further. Farmers are getting
older and many in the next generation have little
interest in taking over — that means opportunities for
new buyers. Others are looking at ways to diversify
and find new sources of income; customers too are
demanding higher standards. In Britain, post-Brexit
reforms to agricultural subsidies are likely to prioritise
biodiversity and environmental services as much
as crop production. Farmer Bill will not be the only
one considering how to combine profitability and
sustainability.
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The Editorial Board, 1 April 2021.
©The Financial Times
All rights are reserved.
Articles republished from the Financial Times.

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Published by Macmillan Education Ltd. © Macmillan Education Limited, 2021.
BUSINESSNEWSLESSONS
Intermediate
Understanding the article
a. Are these statements true or false according to the text? Correct the false statements.
1. Bill Gates is very wealthy, and he owns more public land than anyone else in the world.
2. The amount of land he owns is equivalent to the size of Hong Kong.
3. Funds invested in land used originally for farms have been growing and reached a record high
in 2019.
4. Although new land owners are not traditional farmers, they do want to have a better relationship
with the world.
5. Land can be used to grow trees and crops, which reduces carbon production and protects
the environment.
6. A wealthy Scottish man has been planting lots of crops on his estate.
7. Bill Gates thinks that more productive workers will help people in Scotland cope with the
changing climate.
8. New scientific techniques are being used to develop technology that can support
responsible agriculture.
9. Farmers are getting older, and the next generation is keen to take over the family business.
10. Customers’ behaviour is changing too and they are demanding that companies take steps to
protect the environment.
Business Language – Strong collocations
a. Match the words to make phrases with strong collocations.
1. private
2. blank
3. next
4. taking
5. high
a. generation
b. land
c. standards
d. cheque
e. over
b. Complete the sentences with the phrases with strong collocations.
1. Private schools are also seeing the benefit of online courses, and the
of students should be exposed to technology from the earliest possible age.
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Published by Macmillan Education Ltd. © Macmillan Education Limited, 2021.
BUSINESSNEWSLESSONS
Intermediate
BUSINESSNEWSLESSONS
2. The company announced that another business would be
the management of the main website.
3. The film explored the idea of a child receiving a and deciding to live a
life of luxury, free from parental rules.
4. This has led to a trend in people rejecting traditional houses and buying
to build a cheaper home made from natural materials.
5. Working with her was impossible – she had extremely and caused
arguments with colleagues that didn’t meet her expectations.
Business Language – Words and phrases for growth
a. Complete the text using the words and phrases.
more than productive acquisition rose to record high
Following its (a) of an established line of garden equipment, the
garden supplies giant Golden Growth has been benefiting from this new natural trend. Customers
are enjoying the opportunity to get outside more, and many are using their gardens for (b)
reasons.
People have been eager to grow their own food and seeds for onions and tomatoes have been
selling well. In fact, Golden Growth has sold more packets of crop seeds than any other item –
(c) flowers and plants that simply make the garden look attractive.
Sales of soil and plant food also (d) impressive numbers, suggesting
people may be adding lawns to gardens that didn’t originally have them. This holds obvious benefit for
insects, birds, and other urban wildlife.
Some people are simply looking to their gardens for the opportunity to relax. The number of customers
buying furniture for their gardens reached a (e) in the spring, and this is set
to continue as we enter a mild autumn.
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Published by Macmillan Education Ltd. © Macmillan Education Limited, 2021.
BUSINESSNEWSLESSONS
Intermediate
Discussion Questions
a. Discuss these questions.
• Why might some buyers want to purchase land that has been used as a farm but not want
land that includes woodland or forest?
• How could empty land in cities be developed to support the local community and
the environment?
• Why might charities feel the need to help farmers that own a small amount of land?
Wider business theme – land development
a. Form groups of three students. In your groups, discuss the following scenario.
An environmental charity whose primary activity is planting trees in urban spaces is looking for volunteers
to help them develop a new park. The park will contain a play area for children, a pond, and a small area
of woodland.
This is a new project for the charity and as they are exploring areas of development they have not done
before, they will require volunteers with a range of skills and expertise.
In your groups, discuss the different development aspects of the project and consider the skills that would
be needed to achieve them. Make a list of five valuable skills each aspect requires from volunteers.
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1
Published by Macmillan Education Ltd. © Macmillan Education Limited, 2021.
BUSINESSNEWSLESSONS
3. Understanding the article
a.
Students correct the incorrect sentences so that they
match the text.
1. F Bill Gates is very wealthy, and he owns more
private land than anyone else in the US.
2. F The amount of land he owns is slightly smaller
than the size/the territory of Hong Kong.
3. T
4. T
5. T
6. F A wealthy Danish man has been planting trees
on his estate.
7. F Bill Gates thinks that more productive seeds
will help people in Africa cope with the changing
climate.
8. T
9. F Farmers are getting older, and the next
generation isn’t keen/doesn’t want to take over
the family business/farm.
10. T
4.
Business Language –
Strong collocations
a.
Students match the words to make phrases with
strong collocations. Remind students that while some
words may appear to be matched, they must form
common phrases that can be found in the article.
Key:
1. b
2. d
3. a
4. e
5. c
b.
Students use the phrases with strong collocations to
complete the sentences.
Key:
1. next generation
2. taking over
3. blank cheque
4. private land
5. high standards
Landinvestmentsupportsproductivityand
sustainability
1. Warmer
a.
Ask students to work in pairs to do the task. Ask
them to consider the questions and to think about the
different environmental initiatives businesses have
delivered in the past. Examples: reducing carbon
emissions through limiting business travel; using
recycled plastic to make packaging; supporting tree
planting campaigns. Ask them to think about existing
practices and to consider whether they could be
improved upon or adapted to suit many industries. Ask
for feedback from each pair.
2. Key words
Key:
1. breed
2. wealth
3. institutional
4. carbon
5. sink
6. pursued
7. intensive
8. controversial
9. productivity
10. climate
11. planet
12. crop
Level: Upper Intermediate (B1-B2)
Time: Approximately 90 minutes
Business topic: Sustainability and the
environment; land development; agriculture
and technology
Business language: Strong collocations,
words and phrases for business growth
Activities: Key words, understanding the text,
business language, discussion
Groups: Whole class, one-to-one, small
groups
Overview: This article discusses how wealthy
business leaders are buying private land to
meet environmental targets and finding ways
to combine productivity and sustainability in
their approach to redeveloping it.

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2
Published by Macmillan Education Ltd. © Macmillan Education Limited, 2021.
BUSINESSNEWSLESSONS
Ask the class to consider each of the three skills and
provide further discussion: Which kinds of workers
might have this skill? What might this person’s work
history look like? What might they talk about in their
job application?
5.
Business Language – Words and
phrases for growth
a.
Students complete the text with the words and
phrases in the wordpool.
Key:
a. acquisition
b. productive
c. more than
d. rose to
e. record high
6. Discussion Questions
a.
Put students in pairs and ask them to discuss
the questions. Observe the groups and prompt if
necessary. Once pairs have covered all the questions,
discuss question two further: How could empty land
in cities be developed to support the local community
and the environment? Ask the class to consider how
urban and rural areas may differ in respect to land
development opportunities. Write urban development
and rural development on the board. Ask students
to provide important information that developers
need to bear in mind, for example, that urban
developments need to maximise use of space, and
rural developments need to suit their surroundings.
Request five answers for each.
7.
Wider business theme – Land
development
a.
Put the students in groups of three. Ask them discuss
the scenario. Observe the groups, offering assistance
when necessary. Once all groups have made a list
of five skills, draw a basic table on the board that
consists of three columns and six rows. Write play
area, pond and woodland in the column headings.
Ask different groups to give examples of skills needed
to develop these different aspects and create lists with
a mix of suggestions. Once you have completed the
table, read out the lists and ask students to raise their
hand or respond in the chat with the skills they think
are the most important. Review the scores and make
a note of the final three skills. If there are any draws,
make a personal choice to decide the winner.