Anthea McIntyre has been appointed spokesperson on Agriculture and Rural Affairs for Britain's Conservative MEPs.
The Conservative MEP for the West Midlands is herself a grower and vineyard-owner on a small scale in her home county of Herefordshire.
Miss McIntyre has been a member of the Agriculture Committee and the Employment Committee since she joined the European Parliament in 2011.
She has pursued the potential of farming technology and has been a vocal opponent of attempts to ban the use of the weedkiller glyphosate.
Her appointment was announced yesterday (7 March) as she hosted a meeting in the parliament for the European Landowners' Organisation to explore the scope for applying "big data" in agriculture.
On her appointment, she said she is "delighted to be entrusted" with the portfolio.
"Managing our countryside sympathetically and putting food on our tables are both vital tasks," Miss McIntyre said.
"I firmly believe the right broad approach for legislators is to help farmers to do this in a sustainable way rather than by hindering them with over-regulation."
"We may be leaving the EU, but I expect EU rules and standards to continue to be part of our agricultural structure for some time to come.
She added: "It is important that we continue to have an influence over its direction for as long as possible."
