Committee publication · Correspondence · 18 March 2025

Correspondence to the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, relating to fairness in the food supply chain, dated 18 March 2025

From: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Inquiry: Food supply chain resilience and fairness

Summary

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee writes to the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs outlining its ongoing thematic inquiry into fairness in the food supply chain. The Committee is examining how government can promote greater fairness and transparency to support producers and boost food security, building on previous committee work and drawing on evidence from over 30 written submissions, stakeholder engagement events with 36 organisations, and over 320 public survey responses.

Key findings

  • The Committee's inquiry follows a stakeholder-identified policy priority and builds on the previous EFRA Committee's 2019-24 investigation into profitability sharing and contractual practices in food supply chains
  • Previous EFRA Committee received 65 written submissions and held five oral evidence sessions including testimony from producers, manufacturers, processors, supermarkets, and former Minister Sir Mark Spencer
  • Current inquiry has gathered over 30 written submissions, held two stakeholder engagement events (November 2024 and February 2025) with 36 organisations combined, and received over 320 public survey responses focusing on supply chain fairness

Tone

Procedural

Topics

food-supply-chainagricultural-fairnessfood-securityregulatory-oversight

Key actors

Daniel Zeichner MP, Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, Sir Mark Spencer, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Notable line

… my Committee is currently conducting a thematic inquiry into fairness in the food supply chain.

Key Quotes

… my Committee is currently conducting a thematic inquiry into fairness in the food supply chain.
Daniel Zeichner MP · Outlining the scope of the Committee's inquiry
We are examining the ways in which the new Government cari promote greater fairness and transparency in supply chains, as part of efforts to support producers and boost food security.
Daniel Zeichner MP · Stating the Committee's inquiry objectives
View original document →

Source · parliament.uk record ↗

Correspondence to the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, relating to fairness in the food supply chain, dated 18 March 2025 | Beyond The Vote | Beyond The Vote