Farm cooperatives have an “essential” role to play in strengthening the position of farmers in the food supply chain says the EU Commissioner for Agriculture, Phil Hogan.
Speaking at the annual congress of agri-food cooperatives in Spain, he also commented on the need for action at a European level to cut down on the “unfair trade practices” which were present in the functioning of the food supply chain.
Addressing over 1000 representatives of Spanish cooperatives in Valencia, Commissioner Hogan (pictured) highlighted the need to promote the cooperative sector in all the agricultural sub-sectors. He told delegates that the cooperatives they represented had the potential to help increase the agricultural sector’s competitiveness and to assist in improving the position of farmers and livestock owners in the food supply chain.
In relation to the issue of unfair trade practices”, he said that the Spanish approach to improving the functioning of the food supply chain could be an example of action which could be taken by other member states and also at a community level.