As UK farming faces its worst crisis in over 30 years, market power in the food chain is concentrated in the hands of the supermarkets and corporations. Farmers For Action spokesman David Handley (co-chairman of the People's Fuel Lobby, organisers of the fuel protests) has threatened Tesco's (the UK's most profitable supermarket) with blockades of their distribution depots, in a protest against the exploitation of food producers, and what they say are Tesco's plans to force milk prices down further.

A recent survey of UK supermarkets has revealed that opposition to GM foods is as strong as it was in 1999. All large UK supermarkets intend to keep their own-brand products GM free for 2002. At the same time Lord Melchett, ex head of Greenpeace, has joined Burson-Marsteller, the worlds largest PR company, whose clients have included Monsanto and Union Carbide after the Bhopal gas leak disaster, where thousands are still suffering.

Meanwhile the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) has recently launched the Race to the Top project which brings together both NGOs and Supermarkets to answer questions such as how are supermarkets performing in their promotion of a greener and fairer food system? Are they sourcing food at lowest cost with the lowest ethical, environmental, animal welfare and labour standards? and to what extent are they now competing on social, environmental and ethical performance?