Supermarkets have been called to a summit at Number 10 to discuss why food prices are continuing to rise while households struggle with their weekly shop and farmers can’t afford to cover their costs. Food and drink price increases have risen to their highest rate in 45 years with inflation at 19.2 per cent. At the same time, many farmers and growers have said prices paid to them for produce are not covering the cost of production and are being forced out of business as a result.
The mismatch in high consumer inflation and an increasingly broken supply chain is gaining almost daily media attention. In response to rising food prices, the government held a Farm to Fork Summit on 16 May, at Downing Street, which has been criticized for not inviting many of those working in food systems.
Some farming representatives were expected to be there, including the NFU and the Nature Friendly Farming Network (NFFN), along with celebrity TV presenter-turned farmer Jeremy Clarkson. Notable absences have been pointed out as those working in sustainable food organisations, including chief executive of the Sustainable Food Trust and farmer Patrick Holden, and organic farmer Guy Singh-Watson, both of whom spent the day doing high profile media interviews.
Others have pointed out that prioritising supermarket presence at the summit only continues the trajectory of allowing markets to run the food system.
Source: wickedleeks.riverford.co.uk