EU farm leaders call for more co-op power

European competition rules should be adjusted to enable producer organisations, especially co-operatives, to gain more power in the food supply chain, EU farmers’ body Copa has said.

It called for an independent “European Food Trading Agency” to be created in order to provide advice on food chain issues and contribute to a more transparent and fair food supply chain. A European “Food Trading Ombudsman” that adjudicates on disputes would be an important part of this.

Copa also said the impact of private, retail and owned labels on the competitiveness of the agri-food sector should be assessed at EU level, as their growth was often at the detriment of producer/agri-food industry labels.