MP for West Dorset, Chris Loder, has said that it is “immoral” how each of the ‘Big Six’ supermarkets do not pay farmers a fair price.
Loder has written to each of the ‘Big Six’ – which is comprised of retailers Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi and Lidl – to demand that farmers and food producers be paid a fair price.
“It’s immoral that many farmers and food producers who supply the ‘Big Six’ supermarkets are still turning a negligible profit – sometimes of less than 1p profit for the food they produce when supermarkets declare record profits,” he said.
“This is simply unacceptable. With record turnover and inflation having worked in their favour, it is incumbent upon the supermarkets to do the right thing.”
Loder has also called for the ‘Big Six’ supermarkets to address the prices of their food and fuel, which remain “inconsistently high”, even though inflation has halved.
“In addition, I’ve urged each supermarket to reduce, or even eliminate, its reliance on single-use plastic,” he said.
“I look forward to scrutinising the responses of each and pushing for greater representativeness within the retail sector.”
AHDB Horticulture
It was announced yesterday (Wednesday, January 3) that the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) is transferring back to the horticulture industry the royalties arising from the commercialisation of two levy-funded research projects.
This is part of the disposal of assets for the wind down of all AHDB Horticulture activities.
Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) ministers have agreed with the AHDB board’s recommendation to re-assign the royalties to appropriate industry grower associations.
As a member of the former East Malling Strawberry Breeding Club, AHDB Horticulture has been receiving a share in some of the released strawberry varieties, paying annual royalties to AHDB of approximately £85,000 (average over six years to 2021).
The AHDB shares have been transferred to British Berry Growers (BBG).
AHDB Horticulture is a 25% royalty partner with Lancaster University on Jasmonic Acid, paying annual royalties to AHDB of about £40,000.
This has been transferred to the British Protected Ornamental Association (BPOA).
