An Early Day Motion which suggests merging the existing supply chain watchdogs, currently split across two government departments, into one stronger and more effective body has been signed by 28 MPs from across the political spectrum including Labour MP Rebecca Long Bailey and Conservative MP Sir John Hayes.
The Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) currently sits under the Department for Business and Trade, and operates separately to the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA), which reports to Defra.
The motion was discussed at a roundtable in parliament this week that featured MPs, peers and farming representatives, with speakers describing the current system as “not fit for purpose”.
Concerns raised included the fact that farmers and growers in the UK are still being forced to accept late payments and order cancellations without notice.
Guy Singh-Watson, founder of organic farming business Riverford, launched the Get Fair About Farming campaign in 2023 but said that little progress has been made since.
According to research conducted by the campaign, 67% of farmers fear being delisted if they speak out against unfair supermarket practices and 75% say the behaviour of supermarkets is a leading concern within the industry.
“For too long, supermarkets have been left unchecked,” Singh-Watson, who is supportive of the motion, commented.
“British farmers are faced with last-minute cancellations, delayed payments, and rock-bottom prices.
“I urge MPs to stand with farmers and call on the Government to create a single, central watchdog with real teeth, and that is strong enough to hold supermarkets to account, help to rebalance the system, and give farmers the security to farm well rather than worry whether they’ll be paid.”
Riverford and food and farming alliance Sustain are also asking members of the public to write to their MP and urge them to support better regulation and ensure fair treatment across the whole supply chain, from farmers and growers all the way to the biggest retailers.
“A single regulator with real authority would give them the confidence to invest in their businesses, care for the land, and continue producing the good food we all depend on,” added Singh-Watson.
“We hope this Early Day Motion is the first step towards giving them the protection they deserve.”
Georgina Edwards, sustainable farming campaign officer at Sustain, highlighted separate research which revealed that farmers are often left with less than 1% of the profit from the food they produce.
“Now is a crucial time for addressing the power imbalance between the people that produce our food and the retailers that sell it,” Edwards said.
“Unfair treatment from supermarkets pushes them into debt, which in turn damages their mental health and prevents them from engaging with the transition to nature-friendly farming.
“The solution is clear: we need a single, well-resourced regulator with the power to enforce fairness across the supply chain.”
