Injustice runs deep in Britain’s failing food system

Leading figures from industry, the public sector and charities have joined forces to call for fundamental changes in finance, trade and employment to make the British food system fairer.

They say farmers should help set farm policy and consumers should be educated about the social and environmental cost of cheap food.

The Food Injustice report, published today (Friday, July 23) is a year long investigation carried out by the Food and Fairness Inquiry committee which is made up of members from across the food sector.

Helen Browning, chairman of the Food and Fairness Inquiry said: “This is the first time such a diverse group of people has got together to hammer out these difficult issues. It tested us all, but we’ve emerged with a common understanding of how deeply injustice runs in food and farming.

“The challenges ahead are formidable, but the Food and Fairness Inquiry process has shown me that together we can meet them.”

The report makes a series of recommendations:

• On agricultural policy it calls on government to give farmers a fair say in setting farming policies and research priorities.
• On cheap food it says we need to redefine the meaning of ‘affordable’. Everybody, including consumers, will have to recognise that ‘cheap’ comes at environmental and social costs.
• On food security it urges the UK government ensure that small-scale producers around the world can get access to land and markets.
• On the trend towards bigger farm businesses it urges businesses to ask government to review the public interest consequences of international trends towards corporate consolidation, and look after farm workers’ health, safety and economic security.
• On regulating the City it asks the UK government to show leadership in bringing down global food price volatility by strengthening financial regulation to limit speculation on the price of food. 

Paul Whitehouse, Chair of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, which was set up to combat exploitation in the food chain in the UK praised the Inquiry. He said: “In the UK we have become used to the all-year-round supply of food which used to be available only on a seasonal basis.

“We have become ever more disconnected with the land and those who use it to produce our food. It’s good that food is cheap, but those who produce it are entitled to a fair reward. We all have a part to play in achieving this.”

Members of the the Food and Fairness Inquiry committee included Fairtrade Foundation CEO Harriet Lamb, Andrew Opie from the British Retail Consortium, Melanie Leech, Chief Executive of the Food and Drink Federation, Paul Whitehouse, Chair of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority, and Jeanette Longfield, who runs the campaign group Sustain.

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