The Green Party announced last week that South West farmer Oliver Dowding has been appointed as the new agriculture spokesman for the party. This is a newly defined post and emphasises the party’s increased desire to both connect with farmers and have a stronger profile on agricultural issues.
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.
Mindful that agriculture is the last primary industry left in the UK, the Green Party maintains that it would be a dereliction of duty to not do everything possible to care for and nurture agriculture sensitively.
"Farming is one of the most long-term industries and farmers have traditionally farmed as though they were going to from for ever. 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", says Oliver Dowding.
"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."
The Green Party says they "seek to work with the environment and its natural constraints rather than against it."
Dowding concludes: "I echo the stance of The Green Party and have no doubt that agriculture would be poorly served if we were not within the EU. Whilst the EU is far from perfect, it’s crucial that we remain part of 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."
