The Burdons own Glen Dene Station and were last week awarded a $15,000 New Zealand Farm Environment Award Trust and Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry study scholarship grant.
Mr Burdon said the dairy industry already had several farm ownership options and he and his wife want to look at structures and options that could apply to sheep, beef and deer farming.
That included succession issues, new entrants to the industry and issues facing women.
They intend employing professionals to help with their report and also to monitor Australia where the Government has commissioned work on the issue.
The prize, available to a previous year's winner, was announced at the recent Ballance Farm Environment awards, part of a Sustainability Showcase dinner held at Parliament's Banquet Hall to honour this year's eight regional supreme winners.