British Milk Industry in Crisis
by Sangeeta Haindl
Farmers unions believe the milk industry is in crisis and that a solution is urgently needed to the way food is sold in Britain. This August, there have been nationwide protests by dairy and livestock farmers who claim they are facing "financial devastation" because of falling lamb and milk prices. They have called on the government to introduce long-term contracts between farmers, distributors and supermarkets and to force retailers to clearly label whether their products are British or imported. The unions have warned of “dire consequences for the farming industry and rural economy” if the way in which food is sold does not change in the near future.
Figures from AHDB Dairy, the trade body, show that the average U.K. farm gate price for milk – that’s the price that farmers are paid – has fallen by 25 percent over the last year, to 23.66p per litre. Industry experts claim it costs farmers 30p per litre to produce milk, meaning farms are out of pocket and have been badly affected by the drop in prices. This slump in milk prices is due to the fact that dairy farmers are competing in a global market place and supply is exceeding demand. Plus, there is a Russian ban on imports and a collapse in demand from China for dairy products have played a part in the problem of falling milk prices, industry experts believe.
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Sangeeta Haindl writes on women and children; social innovation; social enterprise and social entrepreneurs. She is the founder of Serendipity PR, in London, U.K., where she works with high-profile brands and organizations in the public, non-profit, and corporate sectors, winning awards for her work from the communications industry. She is chairman of London's leading conscious well being organisation, Alternatives, which hosts leading speakers such as Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson, Neale Donald Walsch and many other well-known names. She describes herself as a Spiritual Entrepreneur, Conscious Explorer; enjoying helping others, paying it forward and being a mum.
