IFA president Eddie Downey has been elected chairman of the COPA-COGECA Working Party on the Food Chain, which will be pushing for reform of the EU food chain to deliver a fair return to farmers.

Downey said he was committed to working through COPA to convince the political system of the need for primary producers to be treated with equity.

“If unchecked, retail power will continue to put downward pressure on the price received by farmers. This will undermine their viability and threaten their livelihoods.

‘‘Strong legislation is needed in this country and at European level if the supply chain is to be rebalanced,” he said.