Not that long ago we mentioned the news story about falling milk prices and the effect that it has having on dairy farmers. Well, the response has been swift.

Members of Parliament affiliated with the Commons Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Committee called for the remit of an industry watchdog to be widened, to encompass fairy farmers, Fairtrade weighed into the debate.

Speaking on the issue, which has made the national news on numerous occasions, Barbara Crowther, Fairtrade’s Director of Policy and Public Affairs, commented that:

“The concern about low prices being paid to dairy farmers in the UK parallels Fairtrade’s concern about low prices being paid to farmers in the developing world. Paying farmers less that it costs to produce their goods is just not sustainable.

“As well as affecting farmers’ livelihoods,” she added, “it could ultimately mean the foods we enjoy become unavailable or unaffordable in the [long] term.”

The finger of blame has been pointed in the direction of the larger supermarkets that have, unsurprisingly, rejected claims of ‘profiteering’ and taking advantage of dairy farmers.

That, however, has not stopped some members of the Scottish Parliament from laying the boot in when they heard that some people were receiving just 24.87p per litre of milk. To put that figure into context, the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers, the National Farmers Union and the group Farmers for Action all believe that 30p per litre should be the absolute minimum price.

During a Westminster debate, Anne McIntosh noted that pre-existing relationships within the industry must be altered because if not, there won’t be any noticeable change in pricing in the near future.

“This issue here is the imbalance of power in agricultural supply chains,” Crowther continued, once more comparing the plight of dairy farmers to those found on a wider global scale.

“It’s time there was greater transparency on the distribution of value in supply chains – for milk, bananas and other products.

“The latest crisis in the UK dairy sector is further evidence of a need for more systemic change.”