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 today as part of our New Deal for Farmers, the review
is a major 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 (like wheat and barley),
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 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 has already taken decisive 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% of food supplied in public sector
contracts to come from local producers or those certified to
higher environmental standards.
We've also appointed former NFU president Baroness to lead reforms that put
more money back in farmers' pockets, as part of our Plan for
Change
This action builds on reforms already made in other farming
sectors, including the Fair Dealing (Milk) Regulations, which
came into effect on 9 July 2024, and the Fair Dealing (Pigs)
Regulations have also recently received parliamentary
approval.
Collaborating with devolved governments, we will continue to
develop a fairer, more transparent supply chain that benefits
both farmers and the public.
A formal public consultation will be launched, giving farmers and
other stakeholders the chance to share their experiences.
