Carmichael speaks on food supply chain fairness at Royal Highland Show

Orkney and Shetland MP, Alistair Carmichael, has today spoken out on the need for great fairness in the food supply chain at the Royal Highland Show. Mr Carmichael was invited by the National Farmers’ Union Scotland to discuss issues facing farmers and crofters in an event on Friday morning.

Other topics raised during the event included improving country of origin labelling for Scottish and UK produce, and future trading relationships with the EU and other partners.

Mr Carmichael is Chair of the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee.

Speaking after the event, Mr Carmichael said:

“I was delighted to be invited by NFU Scotland to speak to their members and the wider agricultural community at the Royal Highland Show today. As Chair of the EFRA Select Committee, Member of Parliament for a farming and crofting constituency, and a partner in my family’s farm, these issues are close to my heart – so any opportunity to hear and reflect on the challenges facing rural communities is an opportunity worth taking.

“It should be no great surprise that food supply chain fairness was a core topic of interest in these discussions. Food prices have gone up and up in recent years and yet farmers and crofters are seeing their profit margins squeezed ever tighter. Someone is making a profit out of our food industry but it is not those producing the food – and until that changes, the calls for meaningful food supply chain fairness are only going to get stronger.

“If there is a message coming out of this year’s Show it is surely that farming continues to have the energy and ideas to be a positive force for our country and our economy in the years to come. All that is needed is for our governments to unlock that potential, or at least to get out of the way.”