West Midlands-based farmers and growers are being urged to “walk their supply chain” as part of a £25,000 project designed to help them build more collaborative relationships with processors and retailers.
The series of eight events is designed to increase farmers’ understanding of the food supply chain. They aim to improve relationships between producers and processors, as well as highlight areas where farmers can increase their margins through on-farm added-value processes.
Delivered by food and farming collaboration experts English Farming and Food Partnerships (EFFP) and farmer-controlled business services group 7Y Services, the free seminars will tackle a range of production and commercial issues.
Simon Thelwell, EFFP regional manager, said: “The events will walk a group of farmers through a supply chain. One example is milk, starting with the farmer looking at technical success on farm, then onto the dairy to understand how that business works, and finally to a local retailer or a national supermarket to hear about consumer trends and how farmers can play a more active role in making the supply chain work more effectively.”
Fresh produce companies have been conspicuous by their absence in the initial planning stages, however, and Thelwell would be very interested in hearing from growers in this sector. “We have received a good level of interest and a number of groups have come forward to participate, but no-one from the fresh sector. We have got a group of farmers from Herefordshire on board, who want us to look at adding value to potatoes in the field, but ideally, we would have an event in the fruit and vegetable sector,” he says.
Farmers and growers have a lot to gain from learning about each other’s sectors, he added. “By walking through the whole supply chain farmers and growers will build a greater understanding of the complete process from start to finish, make contacts from other parts of the supply chain and understand how essential it is for everyone involved to work together. There is a real opportunity here for fresh produce firms to learn from other industries.”
Richard Jackson, managing director of 7Y Services, EFFP’s co partner on the project, says: “Growth in direct sales and farmers markets have eased the burden for the few, but the vast majority of UK farmers have had prices squeezed whilst supermarkets’ profits soar.
“Yet most UK farmers and growers have to rely on the larger retailers for their livelihood, and that is why it is essential that producers, processors and retailers start to work more closely together in pursuit of better quality and fairer prices.”
The project is part of the Natural England Farm Demonstration Programme, and events are planned in the milk, arable, added-value, horticulture and bio-energy supply chains. They will be co-delivered in conjunction with the West Midlands’ Rural Hubs.
The project will run in two phases, with four events planned between mid-November and the end of the year, and another four in the early months of 2008. A shortlist will be drawn up at the end of this week for the first four events, but Thelwell tells FPJ that there is “plenty of time” for growers to register their interest.
The project is for regional groups, including buying/discussion groups, marketing groups and others. Anyone interested should contact Simon Thelwell on 07834 337347, or email sthelwell@effp.com.
