Customers believe farmers should be paid fair price for food

INDEPENDENT consumer research recently carried out on behalf of Agri Aware reveals strong support among the Irish public for legislation to ensure that farmers receive a fair price from supermarkets.

Almost 90 per cent of people who responded to the Agri Aware survey said they think legislation should be introduced to ensure that farmers receive a fair price from supermarkets for their food that is sold there.

The survey also found that 95 per cent agreed that Irish farmers play an important role in the Irish economy; while 89 per cent of respondents believe Irish farmers provide quality, safe, traceable food at an affordable price for Irish consumers.

Furthermore, 87 per cent of those surveyed believe the standards of food production in the EU are considered to be higher than in the rest of the world; while 75 per cent of respondents believe there is a positive relationship between sustainability and agriculture.

Agri Aware’s Chairman, Richard Moeran said: ‘It is clear from this survey how the Irish public are very much behind the introduction of legislation to ensure that retailers pay a fair price to farmers for the quality food that they produce. This Agri Aware survey clearly demonstrates that the Irish public expect retailers to treat farm families fairly. Retailers must realise and take on board what the consumer wants. The below cost selling of food will leave both consumers and the primary producer as the long term losers.

IFA President Joe Healy welcomed the strong endorsement of the Association’s view that stronger retail regulation is needed. ‘Consumers clearly understand that giveaway prices make a mockery of quality food and threaten the viability of producers in this country. The IFA has campaigned for a long time for legislation to restore equity in the food supply chain, bring more transparency to the market, and curb the dominance of the retail multiples. Farmers need to see a greater margin from the market in their pockets; it is critical that the recommendations of Commissioner Hogan’s Agricultural Markets Task Force report are introduced without delay and actively enforced to rebalance power in favour of farmers.’