For too long now, too many farmers not just in West Dorset but across the country have felt held to ransom by the vast corporate organisations we call supermarkets.

Some farmers have been threatened with having their milk contracts torn up by one supermarket if they refused to sell their calves to that chain. And they often must provide their accounts so the supermarket can decide the profit margin the farmer can make with no room whatsoever in negotiations.

At the Conservative conference this week, I contributed to the policy debate on the future of English farming where I was able to express my hope that the current supply-chain situation we are seeing will change the way we get our produce for the better.

I’ve advocated a much more local supply approach and one that reduces miles, one that offers more consumer choice and one that is fairer to suppliers and HGV drivers.

The supply chain issues we are seeing are because of the heavily centralised supply chains we have are not resilient and we now must grasp this nettle and change it. I argued that better terms and conditions and facilities for lorry drivers, along with fairer prices for the consumer and the farmer and that this is achievable through a more local system.

What I believe has happened to the supply chain network is that huge companies have screwed down the centralised supply chain network and it’s broken. I’m no socialist. I’m a conservative and proud of it, but corporate greed at the expense of supply chain resilience must be challenged when it harms our rural communities and providers.

I believe the current situation should prompt industry to ensure a more diverse and resilient supply chain and that their suppliers and lorry drivers are fairly treated

Please do not hesitate to contact me at hello@chrisloder.co.uk if there is anything I can help you with, and visit my website www.chrisloder.co.uk for updates.