Ms Sinéad McPhillips:

None of these strands represents the complete answer to increasing beef prices and there is no magic solution but they are all worthwhile in themselves. We see beef producer groups as having the potential to give farmers more of a negotiating platform with factories, particularly if they can differentiate themselves by making local products or having GI status. This could lead to increasing profitability for particular producer groups.

The directive on unfair trading practices proscribes and limits certain practices but it is focused on retail level. It is the direction of travel and a series of initiatives across the EU are aimed at improving transparency in the supply chain. At retailer level, there has been significant acknowledgement of the importance of the farmer's role in supplying beef and other products to retailers. One would hope that would lead to pressure to pass some of the profits back along the chain to the primary producers.