Using land to store carbon may eat into food production

Costs of doing business on the land are rising as farmers compete with big business for properties. (Mick Tsikas/AAP PHOTOS) (AAP)

The cost of food will rise if swathes of agricultural land are used for planting trees to store carbon, an inquiry has been warned.

The cost of doing business on the land is going up as farmers compete with big business for properties, National Farmers' Federation spokesman Warwick Ragg told an inquiry hearing into stricter emissions controls.