THE National Beef Association (NBA) has renewed its call for the appointment of an Agricultural Ombudsman.

It says poor beef prices in 2014 and this year’s plunge in the price of milk have highlighted the need to ensure that both food producers and the UK’s food supply are protected.

Chris Mallon, NBA chief executive, said: “Britain really needs to consider and protect its domestic food producers, because there is so much global competition for food.

“The reality is that if primary producers are forced out of the industry, people will go hungry. If more dairy farmers decide to leave the industry, our children will go thirsty.

“Dairy Farmers are only doing what they were told they needed to do – they expanded their businesses and now their prices have collapsed. We saw the same situation in the beef sector last year; as soon as we increased production in response to a supply and demand, the processors cut prices.

“This treatment of our primary producers cannot continue and the Government needs to take action now.”

The Government has created a Grocery Code Adjudicator to rule on issues between the major supermarkets and their suppliers. An Agricultural Ombudsman would have similar powers to ensure all parties keep to their sides of the bargain.

The UK’s food production supply chain of producers, processors and retailers is complex. In the beef sector, the current set up and availability of cheap, inferior imports means that farmers can see the prices they are paid drop dramatically while consumers notice very little difference in the prices they pay in the supermarket.

Mr Mallon said: "Last summer’s Beef Summit suggested a voluntary code of practice for the industry, but sadly, we have seen that in practice this simply does not work.

"We need a watchdog with teeth for the entire agricultural sector, to look at contracts between primary suppliers and primary producers – whether that is beef, lamb, eggs, milk or vegetables – to make sure both sides keep to their side of the bargain

"With a General Election coming up in May, let’s hope the next Government will put Britain’s future food security near the top of its priority list."

ends.