A/HRC/13/33 (c) Proactively engage in public policies aimed at expanding the choices of smallholders to sell their products on local or global markets at a decent price by (a) strengthening local and national markets and supporting continued diversification of channels of trading and distribution; (b) supporting the establishment of farmers’ cooperatives and other producer organizations; (c) establishing or defending flexible and efficient producer marketing boards under government authority but with the strong participation of producers in their governance; (d) using their public procurement systems to support small farmers; and (e) promoting and scaling up fair trade systems; (d) Reinforce the bargaining power of smallholders and equalize their relationships with the agribusiness sector by (a) prohibiting practices that constitute an undue exercise of buyer power; and (b) combating excessive concentration in the food chain, or abuses of dominant positions acquired by certain actors. This requires having in place competition regimes sensitive to excessive buyer power in the agrifood sector, and devising competition authorities with mechanisms that allow for affected suppliers to bring complaints without fear of reprisal by dominant buyers; (e) Re-engage in public regulation of global food chains by (a) guaranteeing that the standards developed by the private sector do not have unintended negative side effects on the realization of the right to food; (b) considering the potential of, and strengthening, alternative decentralized certifying schemes, such as those qualifying products relative to specific cultural/geographical regions; and (c) engaging more broadly in the development of standards through international cooperation. 53. Private actors of the agribusiness sector should: (a) Refrain from practices that constitute an undue exercise of buyer power, as identified by the States in which they operate; (b) In their relationships with workers, use their influence on suppliers to ensure that wages and working conditions improve, rather than degrade, as a result of their suppliers joining global value chains, by (a) seeking to conclude international framework agreements with global unions, guided by the principles stated in this report; (b) considering unilateral undertakings to monitor compliance with ILO standards in the supply chain, while supporting their suppliers in achieving compliance; and (c) engaging in chain-wide learning to assure that participation in the chain is profitable for all involved, including small-scale producers; (c) In their relationships with smallholders: (i) Involve smallholders in the elaboration of and compliance with food safety, labour or environmental standards and facilitate their access to global supply chains; at a minimum, ensure that the imposition of private standards does not exclude smallholders from certified food chains (by assessing the impact of private standards on the right to food); (ii) Negotiate contract farming arrangements that respect the right to food of smallholders and the criteria outlined in this report; (iii) Promote fair trade through increased shelf space and by running information campaigns highlighting the unique importance and contribution of fair trade. 20 GE.09-17776