A PETITION to protect farmers from unfair behaviour has reached more than 100,000 signatures - which could mean it is debated in parliament. 

The Grocery Supply Code of Practice (GSCP) petition, launched by Guy Singh-Watson, founder of Riverford Organic Farmers, is asking for retailers to buy what they agreed to buy, pay what they agreed to pay and pay farmers on time. It currently has 104,017 signatures.

The petition states: "Almost half (49%) of a panel of 100 UK fruit and veg farmers fear they will have to give up their farm within the next 12 months, and many raised concerns about the behaviour of supermarkets, with 69% agreeing that tougher regulations are required to redress the imbalance of power between farmers, processors and the supermarkets.

"The current GSCP contains provisions that are meant to protect suppliers, but allows supply agreements to be varied in certain circumstances. We believe a stronger, clearer code of practice is needed to make sure that all supermarkets stick to fair practices when dealing with farmers."

To sign the petition, click here. 

Now the petition has reached more than 100,00 signatures, Defra has provided a response. They have said the Government is 'committed to tackling contractual unfairness' in the agri-food supply chain and that Defra is 'working to support farmers and ensure they get a fair price for their products'. 

"At the UK Farm to Fork Summit held at Downing Street on 16 May, we announced a new review into fairness in the horticulture supply chain building on what we have already got underway to improve transparency and contracts in the pork and dairy markets," the response reads.

"Beginning in December, we will launch a public consultation exploring these issues. We will analyse the responses and provide a formal response that provides a summary of the findings and sets out next steps. We can only decide what, if any, action is needed once we have analysed the responses, but I can assure you we will use the powers in the Act to bring forward legislation, wherever necessary.

"This review seeks to understand issues relating to fairness in the supply chain across the whole of the UK. If responses indicate there are contractual issues that we believe we should seek to address, the powers in the Agriculture Act apply to the whole of the UK. If regulations are developed, we will engage widely with stakeholders, including the devolved administrations, to ensure that legislation works for all parts of the UK and incorporate special provision for differing circumstances, if necessary."