Over 80 MPs back proposal to protect farmers from unfair dealing by retailers

A proposal to address the power imbalance between farmers and supermarkets has attracted cross-party support from 86 MPs, following successful campaign efforts by Sustain and Riverford Organic Farmers.

The proposal, submitted as an Early Day Motion, calls for the government to strengthen the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) and create a single regulator to protect farmers and ensure fair treatment by retailers. Currently, regulation is fragmented and split across two departments, meaning that farmers’ concerns have failed to be addressed. 

Supermarkets rejecting produce over unreasonable demands, like specifics on colour, size or shape, leading to waste or a lower price that does not cover costs, was also cited as an issue, as was no notice from buyers for changed terms.

Has your MP signed the motion? Write to them today and help protect farmers from unfair trading practices

New independent research commissioned by Riverford, published this week, has highlighted the flaws with current regulation. 99% of farmers said they have faced at least one ‘unfair’ practice, including cancelled orders, late payments, and unfavourable, unfair or unprofitable pricing.

The survey of 200 farmers also found that:

• 7 in 10 thought the buying relationship between growers and retailers has worsened over the last two years.
• 76% felt under financial pressure from supermarket buying practices.
• 65% felt they have no choice but to accept the terms supermarkets set for fear of being delisted.
• 82% said unfair supermarket practices are contributing to stress and poor mental health amongst the farming community.
• Three quarters felt supermarket practices are pushing farmers towards more intensive, less environmentally sustainable methods just to survive.

Riverford founder, Guy Singh Watson, said: 

Farming shouldn’t feel like survival. It should be a livelihood to be proud of: producing good food, caring for the land and looking after the people who work it. How can farmers do the right thing for their soil, their animals and the planet if they’re squeezed for every penny and lack the funds and security to invest in farming well for the long term? And how can shoppers make good choices when they’re being misled by supermarket farmwashing?

Since Sustain launched a public appeal with Riverford in September, over 3000 people have written to their MP, asking them to sign the Early Day Motion.

Georgina Edwards, Sustainable Farming Campaign Officer at Sustain, said: 

It is deeply concerning that three quarters of farmers say that retailers’ behaviour is driving farms towards more intensive, environmentally damaging practices. For farmers to be able to transition to agroecological methods, we urgently need to address the systemic, economic issues undermining farm profitability in supply chains.

The ongoing review of the Groceries Code Adjudicator presents a prime opportunity to make fairer supply chains a reality. It is fantastic that there is support from so many MPs across the political spectrum for reform. We urge the new Ministers of DBT and Defra to join up existing regulation, and ensure enforcers are properly resourced, to better protect the people who produce our food.

Support for the Early Day Motion has more than doubled since the campaign began in September, from 31 to 86 MPs. The cross-party motion is sponsored by MPs from across the political spectrum, including Andrew George MP (Liberal Democrat), Rebecca Long-Bailey (Labour), Sir John Hayes (Conservative), and Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru).

These MPs wrote to the Department of Business and Trade in September to request a joint meeting about supply chain regulation with Defra and civil society organisations, including Sustain. Kate Dearden MP, the minister responsible for the GCA at the Department for Business and Trade, has now responded, agreeing to a future meeting. Sustain and its campaign partners look forward to meeting the minister with her counterpart in Defra, Angela Eagle MP, to discuss next steps for improving supply chain fairness.

Want to know more? Here's 5 things you need to know about unfair supermarket dealing