The Government has announced a ‘collaboration’ fund of up to £10 million as part of a series of measures to help farmers and small producers compete and thrive alongside larger businesses in the food supply chain.
The fund will be designed in consultation with the farming industry and will work by bringing together those interested in co-operation.
Other measures include:
- Introducing compulsory milk contracts between producers and purchasers to help protect diary famers by setting out clear terms
- A requirement that slaughterhouses use a standard grid for the classification of sheep carcasses to help ensure farmers are paid per carcass in a more transparent manner
- A commitment to work with industry to explore improving transparency and access to prices along the supply chain
- An assessment from the Competition and Markets Authority into whether more grocery retailers could come under the remit of the GCA
- Tackling late payments by highlighting to farmers and small producers the role of the Small Business Commissioner
The measures are expected to be brought in later this year.