Oliver was appointed a dedicated spokesperson alongside ten other Green Party members, including Larry Sanders, the Party’s new health spokesperson, whose brother Bernie is competing with Hillary Clinton to become the Democratic nomination for the 2016 US Presidential candidate. The newly defined agricultural brief will emphasise the Greens’ increased desire to both connect with farmers and have a stronger profile on agricultural issues, the party said in a statement.

Oliver has farmed in south-east Somerset for nearly 40 years, the last 26 as an organic farmer. Over time he has kept dairy cattle, beef cattle, grown arable and vegetable crops and more. Currently he has grassland and arable crops only. For nearly all this time he has been certified by the Soil Association and is currently on their Council as a trustee.

Oliver said the Green Party has always been supportive of family farmers, who are currently struggling with extreme retail pressures, which in turn are exacerbated by both highly volatile international finance and commodity markets.

Mindful that agriculture is the last primary industry left in the UK, the Greens have said it would be a “dereliction of duty” to not do everything possible to care for and nurture agriculture sensitively. Speaking on Friday, Oliver said, “Farming is one of the most long-term industries and farmers have traditionally farmed as though they were going to keep on doing so forever. The choppy and violent swings in market pricing is severely hampering all farm sectors and their potential for achieving long-term benefit to society. I look forward to being able to do all I can to help achieve better stability.”

“The Green Party appreciate the need to have flexible policies to cope with the rapidly changing requirements placed upon agriculture by both the market, consumer demands and expectations, as well as politicians. We are very fortunate to have an excellent MEP in the South West, Molly Scott Cato, who is a member of the EU Parliament’s Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. Molly appreciates family farming and truly sustainable agriculture/food production is vital for the UK, in the short, medium and long-term. We seek to work with the environment and its natural constraints rather than against it.”

Discussing the looming EU referendum, Oliver said he has no doubt that agriculture would be “poorly served if we were not within the EU,” which, whilst far from perfect, is the key to creating a more democratic Europe, “and is essential if farmers are to retain access to vital markets, and also be able to source crucially needed labourers from within Europe.”