Buying food responsibly

Learning from fresh produce and ambient supply chains in Spain and Italy

In January 2023, ETI launched a two-year project to improve access to grievance mechanisms for vulnerable workers in selected agricultural supply chains of ETI members. The Grievance Mechanisms in Agriculture (GMA) project aimed to decrease the incidence of modern slavery through a variety of routes. Responsible purchasing practices was identified as a key element, since the decisions of purchasing companies can contribute to or reduce poor working conditions in the supply chain.

As a part of the project, ETI conducted research into the impact of purchasing practices on fresh and ambient suppliers and workers in Spain and Italy, including interviews with suppliers conducted by independent consultants, and then combining the anonymised feedback with outputs of workshops conducted with commercial teams of a few ETI members, to give recommendations for action. 

This report shares the findings, structured according to the Common Framework for Responsible Purchasing Practices in Food.