Arable farmers will benefit from a new government review tackling unfair practices in the combinable crops supply chain, helping to protect their business and income from unfair practices.
Announced as part of the New Deal for Farmers, the review is a step towards ensuring producers have clear, fair, and enforceable contracts – covering pricing, supply volumes, data, and dispute resolution. It will back British farmers to get a fairer return for the food they produce.
Combinable crops, such as cereals, oilseeds, and pulses, are harvested using a combine harvester. They provide essential ingredients for food, animal feed and fuel, making this sector a cornerstone of our food supply chain.
Environment Secretary Steve Reed said, “British growers work incredibly hard to produce world-class food, and deserve fair, transparent contracts that reflect that. This review is a major step forward in giving arable farmers a stronger voice, better protection and fairer returns for the food they produce.
“We’re proud of the vital work farmers undertake every day to feed our nation, which is why we’re investing £5 billion – the largest ever budget for sustainable farming.”
The government says that it has already taken action to secure a fairer deal for farmers. This includes slashing costs and red tape for businesses who export to and import from the EU, making supply chains more resilient and helping reduce costs for consumers, and backing British food with investment and action – aiming for at least 50 per cent of food supplied in public sector contracts to come from local producers or those certified to higher environmental standards.
Responding to the announcement, NFU combinable crops board chair, Jamie Burrows, said, “The NFU has long called for fair dealing in our food and drink supply chains to sustainably support British farming. NFU members in the combinable crops supply chain consistently report that it does not operate fairly, and has not done so for many years, with growers bearing most of the risk.
“Greater transparency and certainty over the operation of contracts would boost grower confidence and allow us to make informed business decisions which would help improve profitability and drive long-term investment in the industry. The NFU will gather the views of its members and looks forward to responding to this consultation when it opens later this year.”