A Carmarthenshire MP has said that with farmers battling challenges on multiple fronts, supermarkets should ‘provide more financial security’ with the the current system accused of “failing farmers”.

The imbalance of power between supermarkets and British farmers was discussed by MPs, Peers and farming representatives at the House of Commons this month, as campaigners called for reform in the supply chain.

The roundtable discussed how to improve fair dealing and called for a single, central regulator to provide genuine protection to farmers and ensure fair treatment by supermarkets. The current system has been accused of “failing farmers” and branded “not fit for purpose”.

Two years on from organic veg box company Riverford’s launch of the powerful #GetFairAboutFarming campaign, farmers and growers in the UK are still being forced to accept late payments and order cancellations without notice.

As pressure mounts, nearly 30 MPs have signed up to an Early Day Motion which suggests merging the existing supply chain watchdogs, currently split across two government departments, into one stronger, more effective body.

As it stands, the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) currently sits under the Department for Business and Trade, and operates separately to the Agricultural Supply Chain Adjudicator (ASCA), which reports to Defra.

Proposals to overhaul the regulator and drive out unfair purchasing practices were put forward to Parliament by Andrew George, LibDem MP for St Ives, and political support for policy improvement is growing. So far it has attracted 28 cross-party MP signatures, including notable sponsors like Labour MP Rebecca Long Bailey and Conservative MP Sir John Hayes, who was involved in settling up the GCA in 2013.

Plaid Cymru MP for Caefyrddin Ann Davies, said: “Farmers are facing pressure from every direction - from shifting government policies to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. But one of the most damaging forces is the imbalance of power between supermarkets and farmers, which threatens the very foundation of the work farmers do to feed the nation. Supermarkets are in a unique position to offer stability, yet too often they contribute to the uncertainty.

“While farmers battle challenges on multiple fronts, supermarkets could - and should - provide financial security. In 2023 - 2024, many upland Welsh farmers saw their incomes fall to just £15,900. That’s not sustainable. We must support our farmers, not undermine them. It’s time to hold supermarkets to account.”

Guy Singh-Watson, founder of Riverford, said: “For too long, supermarkets have been left unchecked. British farmers are faced with last-minute cancellations, delayed payments, and rock-bottom prices. Riverford’s Get Fair About Farming campaign revealed 67% of farmers fear being delisted if they speak out, and three-quarters say supermarket behaviour is their biggest concern.

“I urge MPs to stand with farmers and call on the Government to create a single, central watchdog with real teeth, and that is strong enough to hold supermarkets to account, help to rebalance the system, and give farmers the security to farm well rather than worry whether they’ll be paid.”

Riverford and Sustain, the alliance for better food and farming, are asking members of the public to write to their MP asking them to support better regulation and ensure fair treatment across the whole supply chain, from farmers and growers all the way to the biggest retailers.

MP Sir John Hayes warned previously that the current adjudicator’s powers “are insufficient”, and told Parliament that there’s a reluctance to report issues to the regulator as farmers “fear they will be identified and later punished” by retailers. He added that retailers are “economic tyrants” who “have little mercy.”

Riverford founder Guy Singh-Watson added: “For two years, through Get Fair About Farming, Riverford has been calling on the Government to take action to safeguard the future of British agriculture. Our research showed the climate of fear is real, with many farmers afraid to speak out against abuse.

“A single regulator with real authority would give them the confidence to invest in their businesses, care for the land, and continue producing the good food we all depend on. We hope this Early Day Motion is the first step towards giving them the protection they deserve.”